Club Med Appoints New Executive to Support Stéphane Maquaire


Philippe Heim a été nommé directeur général délégué de Club Med - Crédit photo : RP

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Without slipping into conspiracy theories, recent events might lead us to believe that Henri Giscard d’Estaing and Stéphane Maquaire are shadowing each other.

During the moment when the former head of Club Med is making headlines again after having refused the presidency of the Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Alps 2030, the current CEO would have Fosun impose a chaperone, according to our colleagues at La Lettre, to assist him in managing the French group.

And the mentor of Stéphane Maquaire is none other than Philippe Heim.

The ENA admit moved within the circle of the Chinese shareholder for nearly two years, since he was the group’s deputy chief financial officer, but above all a liaison for Fosun with French institutional and political circles.

From October 8, 2026, the former deputy general director of Société Générale will become deputy chief executive of Club Med and will also join the brand’s executive committee.


Club Med: Philippe Heim to assume expanded leadership responsibilities

In an internal note we were able to consult, we learn that Philippe Heim arrives to meet Club Med’s development expectations and will be charged with the efficiency-improvement project.

In addition to this, he will oversee various departments, such as Finance, Legal, as well as Public Affairs and Communications.



Despite this important scope, he will report directly to Stéphane Maquaire.

“Philippe brings solid leadership experience in international environments, having held senior positions at Société Générale and La Banque Postale, and more recently, as co-chief financial officer of Fosun International.

Beyond this experience, I know Philippe will bring our team his energy, his perspective and his ability to challenge us as we enter this new phase
“, commented to the teams by the CEO of the brand with the trident.

Par la même occasion, Philippe Heim quittera son poste à Fosun et au conseil d’administration du Club Med.

Ce n’est pas tout, car cette nomination s’accompagne d’une réorganisation de l’état-major.


Club Med: stock market return and growth as top priorities

Thus, we learn that Edmund Choi, Club Med’s chief financial officer, will report directly to the new leader. He will support financial planning, performance management, treasury management, procurement and financial resilience.

Saliha Abdou, who leads the Legal Department, will also fall under Philippe Heim’s responsibility, as will Cécile Trunet-Favre, director of communications and influence, but only for public affairs.

An organizational change designed to allow Andrew Xu to focus solely on his core priorities: growth and investment.

“We have a lot ahead of us.

Our ambitions are high, as is the standard we set for ourselves. I am convinced that the strength and complementarity of our executive committee will be essential to turning these ambitions into results
“, concluded Stéphane Maquaire in the memo.

To accelerate the group’s development and find growth channels, the CEO has decided to entrust strategy definition to Alvarez & Marsal.

Born initially from restructuring work, the firm provides international consulting to many companies, combining operational and financial expertise, execution capability and commitment.

The firm will play a role in increasing both Club Med’s activity volumes and margins.

Stéphane Maquaire arrives with a tight agenda. He must successfully implement the expansion of vacation villages to reach 100 sites by 2035, from around 60 today.

To read : Club Med: objective of 100 villages by 2035

A CEO who, according to the newspaper Les Échos, “would have been embraced by the GOs, even though he knows nothing about tourism and comes from mass retail.”

He must also, in addition to discovering the industry, prepare the listing return of the brand with the trident, which would relocate from Paris to Hong Kong.

Paris to Milan: I Tested Trenitalia’s Executive Class


Au départ de la gare de Lyon, l'hiver, il fait encore nuit - Photo : PB

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6:28 a.m. It is still night when the Frecciarossa (Red Arrow) of Trenitalia stirs on the platforms of Gare de Lyon.

9281, is the train number that leaves Paris each morning for its terminus – the central station of Milan – after stops at Lyon Part-Dieu, Chambéry, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, Modane, Oulx and Turin.

With two daily round trips, the Italian company Trenitalia opened, in December 2021, the field of competition in France on the high-speed lines (LGV), against SNCF.

After nineteen months of interruption due to a landslide in Maurienne in the summer of 2023, rail traffic between France and Italy resumed just a year ago. Since then, Trenitalia’s experiment has continued successfully.

It is true that the Paris-Milan service in the “Frecciarossa” offers, as the company willingly notes, “optimal connectivity for travelers while facilitating privileged access to mountain regions”.

It is also, Trenitalia insists, “the only service to connect Lyon directly to Italy without a transfer”. However, on this mid-March morning of 2026, what truly mattered to us was to settle in quickly to sleep a little longer.

Fortunately, the Car 1 – dedicated to the Executive Class in which we are traveling – was located very close to the departure platform. After climbing aboard, placing our suitcase in the dedicated space, we were greeted by a smiling onboard attendant who spoke perfect French.

Immediately, she helped us settle into one of the ten luxurious champagne-colored leather seats with a leg rest, after rotating our seat 180° (electric control) to face the direction of travel. Thus, we would travel even more comfortably as these seats, 74 cm wide, are spaced one and a half meters apart.

Cradled comfortably in our seat, slightly reclined, we quickly drifted back into Morpheus’ arms. After, nevertheless, placing our bag on the overhead bag rack below the armrest, at the level of the individual power outlet to charge our phone.


Breakfast at the seat and a business meeting


Pour la classe "Executive", une voiture spacieuse et dix sièges hyper-confortables - Photo : PB

When we reopen our eyes, Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa strides vigorously through the still pale landscapes of Burgundy. The carriage is silent: the impeccably dressed young woman seated opposite me still dozes. The businesspeople seated at the far end of the car, too.

The urge for a coffee arises. Then, the flight attendant promptly asks for our breakfast: croissant? yogurt? ham? fruit salad? It’s your choice and unlimited.

For now, a double espresso and a croissant suffice. As soon as the fold-down table integrated into the lateral armrest is extended and a napkin laid, coffee and croissant are brought by the onboard attendant.

Paris. Two hours have slipped by since our departure. We drift back to sleep a little, but near Chambéry the wagon comes alive.

Two businessmen seated behind me begin talking rather loudly, the young woman opposite me converses with the flight attendant in a Slavic language—Russian, perhaps?—orders her breakfast, then, in her language, and at very high volume, undertakes a phone call that seems endless.

In the small rear compartment of the car reserved for business meetings, two of my neighbors settle in. Their exchanges will be brief. Then, this room equipped with a table, a flats-screen that can connect, and five seats (it is privatizable provided you buy a dedicated ticket) will remain empty for the rest of the journey.

Car 1 stays a busy hive as the train threads through narrow valleys, surrounded by towering, snow-covered peaks. That said, one can still enjoy the panorama and read a bit thanks to the two LED spotlights positioned on either side of the headrest of my seat.


All-you-can-eat lunch


Pour les hommes d'affaires, une salle de réunion privatisable - Photo : PB

As noon approaches, the calm returns. One begins to feel that Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa is delivering on its promises.

Certainly, it is not a symbol of extravagance. Yet, for travelers who value space, quiet, and service, the “Executive” class offers a truly refined travel experience.

Soon, the onboard attendant re-deploys the foldable table and covers it with a napkin before presenting us the menu (renovated every month). It is only a matter of choosing from dishes signed by the star chef, Carlo Cracco, a renowned figure in Italian cuisine recognized by the Michelin Guide.

This partnership, which began in 2013, reflects Trenitalia’s “commitment to offering a culinary experience that blends refinement and Italian authenticity.”

Alongside a selection of club sandwiches, cheese and charcuterie boards, etc., the day’s menu offers as a starter either asparagus cream with its tips or a Mozzarella di bufala. And as a main, chicken with yogurt and turmeric or fillet of sea bass with herbs and fennel.

Our choice is quickly made: mozzarella and sea bass. Both prove delicious, accompanied by a glass of Sicilian white and followed by a fruit salad and the inevitable espresso.


Crossing the Alps without constraints


Des menus savoureux signés du chef star, Carlo Cracco. Ici, daurade au fenouil - Photo : PB

While we were having lunch, the train gradually left the deep valleys behind it, venturing into broader, flatter, and greener landscapes.

After this effortless crossing of the Alps, we were already approaching Turin, a northern Italian city crossed by the Po River.

Upon arriving at Turin’s station, the idea arose of a quick excursion in this city renowned for its museums (Egyptian Museum, Cinema Museum, Automobile Museum, etc.), its palaces, and Porta Palazzo—the largest open-air market in Europe. And also a stay by the major Italian lakes nearby.

For this time, Milan was our destination. An hour later, the 9281 Frecciarossa train stopped at Milano Centrale. Departing from Paris – Gare de Lyon at 6:28, it arrived right on schedule.

Already, a taxi waited for us. Welcome to the Lombard capital, also the fashion and design capital and a very active business city!


An Executive Class well suited to a high-end audience


Trenitalia met Milan à quelque 7 heures de Paris - Photo : PB

Concretely, the Executive Class of this direct service that places Milan about seven hours from Paris lets you travel in comfort, without stress or transfers. It is well suited for business professionals as well as a high-end audience that requires comfort and attentive service.




In Executive Class, the catering (breakfast and lunch served at your seat and unlimited) is included in the ticket price. Expect from €305 for a one-way.

For professionals who might need to alter their trip due to a meeting cancellation or delay, the “Serenità Pro” offer allows altering the ticket without any fare adjustment, whatever the reason. The ticket is also refundable up to the scheduled departure time.

Tickets and schedules will be available on trenitalia.fr, via the Trenitalia France app, in-station ticket offices, and on self-service kiosks.



Trenitalia also aims to reach all publics. In Standard class, a Paris-Milan one-way can be found from €35. And from €49 in Business. In both cases, catering is not included in the price.


Moreover, to prepare summer trips while keeping to budget, travelers can pay in up to four installments via Paypal. They can also use Chèques-Vacances Connect, accepted at ticket offices and by phone.

Another boost for purchasing power, in these times made difficult by soaring fuel prices: the referral offer.

It allows you to obtain 10% off for yourself and 10% off for your referred friends or family. The occasion, Trenitalia emphasizes, “to introduce family or friends to a Frecciarossa journey and enjoy a benefit in return.”