Printemps’ Former CEO Is Heading to Hospitality
Jean-Marc Bellaiche, who wound up a five-year tenure as chief executive officer of Printemps earlier this week, is to become CEO of resort operator Sani/Ikos Group Jan. 1.
He becomes the latest in a growing wave of fashion industry veterans being tapped by luxury hospitality groups for their brand-building expertise.
Bellaiche revealed his latest career move via his LinkedIn account, trumpeting that Sani/Ikos has grown from 1,500 rooms in 2015 to 3,500 today and is “on track to reach 5,600 rooms by 2029.”
To achieve that scale, he said he would “reinforce our leadership in the luxury all-inclusive resort market, while maintaining the unique ‘Sani Ikos magic’ — this exceptional service delivered with heart and consistency by passionate teams, driving record-high guest satisfaction… and remarkable loyalty.”
He clarified that he would take over from Andreas Andreadis and Mathieu Guillemin, currently co-CEOs of Sani/Ikos Group, which operates in Greece and Spain under the brand names Sani Resort and Ikos Resorts. Andreadis and Guillemin are to remain as co-managing partners.
At Printemps, Bellaiche spearheaded a broad rejuvenation that included a rebrand, a pivot toward local customers and a digital transformation of the retailer, which launched its e-commerce site in March 2020 as French went under lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. But his most visible legacy is the opening of the One Wall Street location of Printemps in New York, with its landmarked Art Deco Red Room.
A graduate of the Ecole Centrale de Paris and INSEAD, Bellaiche spent more than 20 years at Boston Consulting Group, and also worked at Tiffany & Co. and French start-up Contentsquare.
Among fashion industry figures who also moved to hospitality in recent years are former Gucci executive Michael Grieve, now chief brand officer at Dubai-based Jumeirah Group, and LVMH watches and jewelry PR director Stephanie Le Badezet, who now oversees Orient Express’ global communications strategy.
