Francois J. Cnockaert Appointed GM of Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo

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. July 22, 2009

JULY 22, 2009 - It is a welcome return back to Japan for Francois J. Cnockaert as he joins The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo as the new general manager. A native of France, Mr. Cnockaert has spent the last three years in China, where he opened The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou.

"When you have a city as dynamic as Tokyo, coupled with one of the most impressive hotels in our portfolio, what you need most in a general manager is energy and experience. Francois is the embodiment of those things and will continue to enliven our hotel by leading an already well-established team," said Herve Humler, President, International. "His long tenure with the company, coupled with his drive for service excellence and creative management style will only further establish the hotel's position in the marketplace, the country and the world."

Mr. Cnockaert's Ritz-Carlton career began in 1993, when he was appointed the director of food and beverage at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, in Southern California. Subsequently, his efforts earned him the position of hotel manager at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, after which he moved to Japan to assist in the opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka. In 1999, he was named the opening general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia.

"I am extremely happy to be back in Japan, and honored to be the general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo," said Mr. Cnockaert. "I was fortunate to be a part of the 'birth' of The Ritz-Carlton brand in Osaka, and I am looking forward to building on that solid foundation to further enhance the guest experience, provide exceptional service, and, on a personal note, become a passionate supporter of the local community."

Mr. Cnockaert, fluent in English and French, earned a Bachelor of Accounting degree from Rouen, France and a Degree in Hotel Management from the Lausanne Hotel School in Switzerland. He also completed a course on "Executive Leadership Certification" from Cornell University, and in 2008, was named the "Outstanding Volunteer of the Year" by the Guangzhou government, an honor never before bestowed on a foreigner.