Mandarin Oriental Mayfair appoints team ahead of Spring opening

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has appointed a team of hospitality experts with years of experience to oversee the launch and operation of Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London scheduled to open in Spring 2024. 

Sitting on historic Hanover Square, Mandarin Oriental Mayfair comprises 50 guestrooms and 77 private residences. It will house the first namesake Akira Back restaurant in the UK from Michelin Star Chef Akira Back, as well as his ‘ABar Lounge’ concept and ‘ABar’ rooftop bar. There will also be an urban spa, focussed on renewal and recalibration.

The property will be led by Susanne Hatje as general manager. Hatje joins direct from her position as GM of Mandarin Oriental, New York, the group’s flagship property in The Americas. A Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group veteran, she brings with her more than 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, including 18 years of senior management roles within Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

Hatje was at the helm of the award-winning Mandarin Oriental, New York for nine years. Prior to that, she served as the global group director of Residences, managing all aspects of the group’s portfolio of branded Residences at Mandarin Oriental. 

Her experience of launching key Mandarin Oriental hotels includes the opening of the iconic Mandarin Oriental, Boston in 2008 as well as The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong which has been winning significant awards since its opening in 2005. Hatje also served as general manager of Mandarin Oriental, Munich, overseeing the re-branding from Rafael hotels, as well as resort manager at the group’s previous hotel, The Kahala Mandarin Oriental, Hawaii.

 Other key team appointments include:

• Peter Wharmby, head concierge – Wharmby joins Mandarin Oriental Mayfair from Four Seasons Hotel Dubai where he became a member of Les Clefs d’Or. Prior to this, he has worked at various properties within the Four Seasons Hotel Group for nearly 20 years.

• Michelle Matthews, assistant director of Spa – Matthews has been with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group for the five past years, where prior to this she worked at The Corinthia and Bulgari Hotel in London. A results-focused spa manager, she has helped shape the spa concept which has been crafted with the Mayfair community as the central focus.

• Jamie Dumas, director of F&B – With over 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry and having most recently worked at Akira Back outposts in Las Vegas, Dumas joins the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair family to orchestrate and lead the F&B concepts at the hotel working closely with Akira Back and his team. As well as recruitment and working with property ownership, operators and culinary partners to ensure a successful launch – he will be curating specialty cocktail, wine and sake programmes, designing elements such as glassware and menus and hand selecting live DJ acts.

• Jihun Kim Maxime, executive chef – Originally from Korea, Maxime has worked at numerous globally acclaimed hotels across the world from San Francisco to Dubai and Melbourne. Working closely with chef Akira Back.

• Jacky Yu, head sushi chef – Yu mastered the art of sushi under Yoshi Muranaka, Zuma’s
  group executive chef and she completed a qualification in Le Cordon Bleu French cuisine before working with Japanese cuisine.

• Andres Ituarte, head sommelier – Originally from Canada and with over 20 years’ experience in the wine and hospitality world Mandarin Oriental Mayfair will be Ituarte first position in a hotel. Recently ranked in the top 20 of the 100 best Sommeliers in the UK in the 2023 Sommelier Edit, he has also just finished his Sake level 3 with WSET. He has devised the wine list to complement the hotel, which will be small and seasonal fitting with the contemporary boutique property.

• Paolo Silverstri, bar director – Silverstri began his career working in Dubai for the Ritz-Carlton followed by Four Seasons. The overall concept for the bars will be a tour through the cultural beverage traditions and culinary facts of Asia.

• Camille Lemmery, restaurant director for Akira Back – Hailing from France, Lemmery has had opportunity to collaborate with esteemed Michelin-starred chefs worldwide, including her own father, and said she felt the time has now come to establish herself within an organisation such as Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.