Accor COO Simon McGrath

Sixteen female leaders – identified as 12-18 months away from progressing to their first General Manager position or next senior role – have completed a specifically designed six month development program.

The program focused on developing new skills in the areas of leadership without authority, strategic planning and analysis, and business improvement. The group also attended virtual webinars with experts in the field of project planning, guest experience, animating food and beverage and managing owner’s expectations.

The Strategic Leaders Development Program that launched in 2014 is part of Accor’s diversity strategy and the group’s commitment to achieving greater gender diversity within senior leadership positions.

This program, which aims to optimise Accor’s talent pool of 10,000 employees and pave the way for greater diversity and gender balance, is an extension of Accor’s industry-leading work in advancing Indigenous causes through its Indigenous Employment Program and Reconciliation Action Plan.

An ambitious target has been set by Accor Australia to increase its number of women in senior leadership and executive positions, from 27% to 50% by 2018. In just 18 months following this commitment, the number of females in general manager roles at Accor has increased to 36%.

Accor Pacific COO Simon McGrath said, “Since the launch of our Strategic Leaders Development Program, we have already seen five women go on to become General Managers in our business which is fantastic. Studies regularly show that companies benefit greatly from having women in senior leadership and it is one of our top priorities to grow our talent to reach our objectives for greater diversity.

“We approach gender diversity from a genuine position as it supports our values and customer service philosophy. As we strive to be the world’s best performing and most valued hotel company we must continue to develop and retain the best people,” said McGrath.

Successful female leaders from Accor’s Strategic Leaders Development Program include:

1. Pullman Reef Hotel Casino Front Office Manager/Revenue Manager, Renee Woodhead has become the General Manager of The Sebel Maroochydore
2. Mercure Sydney Rooms Division Manager Lauren Job has gone on to her new role as General Manager at ibis King Street Wharf.
3. Previously Hotel Operations Manager at ibis Sydney Airport, Victoria Deak has progressed to General Manager at ibis Sydney Thornleigh
4. Hotel Operations at Accor’s Sydney Olympic Park hotels, Michelle Bradshaw has been appointed to General Manager at Hotel Lindrum MGallery Collection in Melbourne.
5. Progressing from Revenue Manager at Pullman and Mercure Brisbane king George Square to Area Revenue & Yield Manager at the same hotel, Laura Ousby has now been appointed to General Manager of ibis Styles Mt Isa.