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Former Le Duff America’s CEO joins growing contractorFormer Le Duff America’s CEO joins growing contractor

Olivier Poirot joining growing contract management firm Elior North America following three years running chains like La Madeleine, Mimi’s Café, Bruegger’s Bagels and Brioche Dorée

Mike Buzalka, Executive Features Editor

April 19, 2019

2 Min Read
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Olivier Poirot, who had been CEO of high-end café-bakery group Le Duff America, has been named CEO of Elior Group’s North America unit. Elior is a contact management company that specializes in senior dining, with a growing portfolio of other onsite operations, including K-12 schools, corrections and colleges.

Poirot previsouly served as CEO of the high-end café-bakery group Le Duff America, which operates chains like La Madeleine, Mimi’s Café and Brioche Dorée. From 2011 to 2016, he was senior vice president/CFO of Sodexo North America, where he was co-leader of business development.

Olivier_Poirot_Le_Duff_America_CEO.pngPoirot (left) began his career in 1992 with Accor SA in the UK, where he held various accounting and management positions before being appointed senior vice president of finance & administration of the midscale and upscale segments of the hotel division of Accor North America. In 2003, he became executive vice president/CFO of Accor North America and in 2007 was appointed CEO of the company, notably in charge of all Motel 6 and Studio 6 operations.

Elior North America placed No. 5 on the most recent FM Top 50 listing with revenues of $1.4 billion.

"Olivier's long experience in the U.S. market and his leadership in the food & services industries are key to support the further development and growth of Elior North America, which is at the heart of our strategy," said Elior Group CEO Philippe Guillemot, to whom Poirot will report, in a statement announcing the appointment.

Correction: An earlier version of this story mistakenly said Poirot was leaving Le Duff America for Elior. Poirot had left Le Duff in 2018. A mistake in a press release from Elior misstated his departure. The article has also been updated to correct Le Duff's restaurant holdings.

About the Author

Mike Buzalka

Executive Features Editor, Food Management

Mike Buzalka is executive features editor for Food Management and contributing editor to Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News. On Food Management, Mike has lead responsibility for compiling the annual Top 50 Contract Management Companies as well as the K-12, College, Hospital and Senior Dining Power Players listings. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature from John Carroll University. Before joining Food Management in 1998, he served as for eight years as assistant editor and then editor of Foodservice Distributor magazine. Mike’s personal interests range from local sports such as the Cleveland Indians and Browns to classic and modern literature, history and politics.

Mike Buzalka’s areas of expertise include operations, innovation and technology topics in onsite foodservice industry markets like K-12 Schools, Higher Education, Healthcare and Business & Industry.

Mike Buzalka’s experience:

Executive Features Editor, Food Management magazine (2010-present)

Contributing Editor, Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News (2016-present)

Associate Editor, Food Management magazine (1998-2010)

Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1997-1998)

Assistant Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1989-1997)

 

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