Sébastien Bazin has a two-year runway — give or take.
The Accor chairman and CEO used the company's annual general meeting Tuesday to confirm what has long been speculated: this is his final term leading the Paris-based hospitality giant, and he expects to depart by May 2028. The board of directors is already at work on succession planning, and Bazin — never short on candor — acknowledged the search may conclude early if the right candidate emerges.
"I'll still be around tomorrow," Bazin told shareholders. "This means that, as we discuss succession planning, we should also continue to manage our day-to-day, execute our strategic road map."
Bazin, who has led Accor for 12 years and overseen its expansion from 13 to 48 brands, was characteristically disarming about his own limitations in making the case for fresh leadership. He said he hopes his successor will have a far stronger command of technology than he does — a candid admission as AI reshapes how hotels market to, attract and serve guests.
"I'm not capable of anticipating it," Bazin said of the technological landscape. "I hope that my successor will have a much better grasp of the world of technology."
The Board's nominations and compensation committee, chaired by Bruno Pavlovsky, is leading the search with support from external consultants. Isabelle Simon, the board's vice chairman, has been deeply involved in the process over the past six months, Bazin noted. The final decision rests entirely with the board — a point Bazin stressed more than once.
The succession news came against a backdrop of strong financial results but notable investor friction. More than a third of shareholders voted against Bazin's remuneration package, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with recent stock performance — even as the company delivered 2025 results it described as at or above the top end of its guidance range.
"Maybe we can leave it at that for the questions," Bazin concluded the meeting before joking: "It sounds a bit like a funeral. I'll be here until May 2028. If we find the right person beforehand, if the Board of Directors finds the right person beforehand, maybe we can conclude my term of office, but we have time."
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.