French hotel brand owner Louvre Hotel Group has promoted Grégorie Bouffard to general counsel, replacing Benjamin Dornic who has left to pursue another opportunity.

Bouffard has been with the group since 2018 when he joined as director of legal operations, before becoming legal director in 2023. In his newly expanded role, he will be responsible for promoting and supporting the group’s development, working closely with CEO Federico Gonzalez. He will take up his new role on 1 October.

Naterre, France-based Louvre owns several hotel brands ranging from the budget Premiere Classe and Kyriad Direct to premium and luxury hotels including Royal Tulip, Sarovar and TemptingPlaces. Louvre is owned by Chinese tourism and hospitality group Jinjiang International.

Gonzalez said: “I extend my best wishes to Grégoire in his new responsibilities. With his solid experience and knowledge of the group, I am confident that he will strengthen the group’s legal strategy and support the implementation of the strategic plan. I would also like to warmly thank Benjamin Dornic for his nine years with the company and wish him the best for the future of his career.”

Prior to joining Louvre, Bouffard spent almost seven years as legal manager at premium drinks brand Moet Hennessy. He also had in-house spells as legal director at luxury children’s clothes producer CWF (Children Worldwide Fashion) and surfwear-maker Rip Curl Europe as legal manager.

Dornic, meantime, departs after almost a decade with Louvre, having also joined from Moet Hennessy, where he was legal director for spirits. Prior to that, Dornic was China GC for French cement giant Lafarge, having also had in-house spells at Transvers and iMediation. He started his legal career as an associate at Linklaters.

In other hospitality-related moves, earlier this month luxury UK hotel estate Stoke Park hired Dipika Jaisinghani Aggarwal as its first GC from nutrition solutions company Spoon Guru.

In November last year, short-term home renting business Airbnb hired US President Joe Biden’s former chief of staff Ron Klain as chief legal officer from O’Melveny & Myers. And last September, global hotel chain Hilton appointed former Molson Coors legal head Anne-Marie D’Angelo as GC, replacing Kristin Campbell who stepped down after 12 years with the company.