Two appointments in quick succession at LVMH Hotel Management
On 12 October 2026, Wilfried Morandini announced on LinkedIn that he had taken up the position of Director of Operations at LVMH Hotel Management, alongside his responsibilities as Managing Director of Cheval Blanc Paris.
In his announcement, he thanked Olivier Lefebvre and the management team at LVMH Hotel Management for their trust. He also emphasised his commitment to continuing his work alongside the head office teams and those at Cheval Blanc Paris.
On 2 October, La Tribune de l’Hôtellerie reported the appointment of Vincent Billiard as Chief Operating Officer of LVMH Hotel Management, effective from 5 October 2026.
Formerly General Manager of Hôtel de Crillon and Regional Vice President, Northern and Central Europe at Rosewood Hotel Group, Vincent Billiard joined LVMH Hotel Management to oversee the General Managers of the Cheval Blanc Maisons, as well as the Operations & Quality, Revenue & Distribution and Sales teams. He also sits on the hospitality division’s Executive Committee.
Wilfried Morandini: eight years with Cheval Blanc
The appointment of Wilfried Morandini represents a continuation of a career largely developed within Cheval Blanc.
He joined the collection in October 2018, initially taking up the position of General Manager of Cheval Blanc Courchevel, which he led for almost four years.
In 2022, he moved to the French capital to take charge of Cheval Blanc Paris, which opened in September 2021 within La Samaritaine. LTH reported his appointment in Paris at the time, alongside Francisco Garcia’s arrival in Courchevel.
Under his leadership, Cheval Blanc Paris was notably awarded the official French Palace distinction in June 2026. The 72-key property, comprising 26 rooms and 46 suites, has an extensive gastronomic offering, including Plénitude, led by Arnaud Donckele, as well as Le Tout-Paris, Hakuba and Langosteria.
From fine dining to luxury hotel management
Before joining Cheval Blanc, Wilfried Morandini was General Manager of Les Sources de Caudalie in Martillac from December 2016 to October 2018.
He previously served as Director of Food & Beverage at Royal Mansour Marrakech between 2014 and 2016, following two years as Director of Operations at Dubern in Bordeaux.
His career began in the world of fine dining. At Le Meurice in Paris, where he worked for more than seven years, he successively held the positions of Restaurant Director and Assistant Director of Food & Beverage. During this period, he was involved in the restaurant’s operations when it was awarded three Michelin stars in 2007.
His earlier experience includes Ritz Paris, Le Bristol, Four Seasons Hotel George V, Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse in Monaco, and Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in the United Kingdom.
Educated at the École Hôtelière de Poitiers, he has also completed several programmes at Cornell University, notably in hotel management, luxury marketing and sustainable innovation.
His background therefore combines extensive knowledge of fine dining, hotel operations and the management of ultra-luxury properties.
An organisational structure evolving alongside Cheval Blanc’s development
These leadership changes come as Cheval Blanc continues the selective development of its collection of Maisons.
The brand has progressively established a presence in Courchevel, the Maldives, Saint Barthélemy, Saint-Tropez and Paris. It has also announced a project in the Seychelles, on the island of Mahé, comprising 52 villas with private pools, designed by architect Jean-Michel Gathy.
Within a collection characterised by a limited number of properties and a particularly high-end positioning, coordination between General Managers, central functions and operational teams represents an important management consideration.
Vincent Billiard’s appointment brings to the organisation an executive experienced in regional multi-property management and international hotel openings. Wilfried Morandini’s promotion, meanwhile, recognises experience acquired within Cheval Blanc itself, first in Courchevel and subsequently in Paris.
The two executives have identifiable complementary professional backgrounds, without prejudging how their respective responsibilities will ultimately be allocated.
Beyond the individual promotions, the operational organisation of LVMH Hotel Management will therefore be worth observing, particularly in the context of Cheval Blanc’s future developments.
At a Glance
New appointment: Wilfried Morandini becomes Director of Operations at LVMH Hotel Management in October 2026.
Dual responsibility: He retains his position as Managing Director of Cheval Blanc Paris.
Recent leadership change: Vincent Billiard took up the newly created COO position on 5 October 2026.
Operational scope: Billiard oversees Cheval Blanc General Managers, Operations & Quality, Revenue & Distribution and Sales.
Internal experience: Morandini has spent eight years with Cheval Blanc, leading its Courchevel and Paris properties.
Governance question: The precise division of responsibilities between the two executives has not been publicly clarified.
