Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced the appointment of Pierre Barthes as General Manager of Mandarin Oriental Pudong,Shanghai with effect from 1 January 2012.

A French native, Mr Barthes brings with him a wealth of more than 20 years experience in the hospitality industry. He joins the Group’s eagerly anticipated hotel in Shanghaifrom Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur, where he has held the position of General Manager for the past four years.

Mr Barthes began his career with Mandarin Oriental in 1998, as Food & Beverage Director at the Group’s Hawaiian property, and has since held a variety of senior management positions within the Group’s US and Asian hotels.

Succeeding Mr Barthes as General Manager of Mandarin Oriental,Kuala Lumpuris Frank Stocek. Mr Stocek joined Mandarin Oriental in 1983 as a management trainee. He swiftly worked his way towards a number of senior management positions within the Group’s Asian portfolio, before being appointed as General Manager of Elbow Beach, Bermuda, a post he has held since 2001.

Commenting on these announcements, Andrew Hirst, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s Operations Director,Asiasaid, “I am delighted to announce these well deserved appointments. With their wealth of experience, I have no doubt that both Pierre and Frank will excel in their new roles, and will ensure that both of the Group’s properties in Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur will be positioned at the very high end of the luxury market.”