Operations Leader Empowers Hotel Teams to Succeed
Since joining the company in January 2022 as vice president of operations, Erik Anderouard has applied his over 30 years of experience and a global perspective to M&R’s hotel operations in New York City. His insights and leadership style reflect the company’s employee-focused and hands-on hospitality approach.
Born in France, Erik’s journey began in his family’s pastry catering business in Paris and Versailles. Instead of taking over his father’s company, he chose a path that led him to explore the world and, ultimately, pursue a career in hospitality that took him to more than 40 countries. “I wanted to travel around the world, but not as tourist,” he said, “My passion was to learn and understand different cultures and understand people, and why they are the way they are.”
After graduating from hospitality school in Paris, Erik spent two transformative years with the French equivalent of the Peace Corps in Nigeria, an experience that fueled his passion for understanding diverse cultures. “I learned to respect every single culture and place I lived in and made friends all over the world.”
His hospitality career took off when he opened the Sofitel San Francisco Bay as general manager in 1994. From there, he rose through the ranks at Sofitel, a luxury brand of French hotel company Accor, with positions of increasing responsibility, including opening general manager of the Sofitel New York, vice president of operations for North America and senior vice president of operations for North and South America.
As senior vice president of operations for Pan Pacific based in Singapore, he was responsible for the global operations of 40-plus four- and five-diamond hotels. He was based there for four years before coming back to New York in 2018, where he served as senior vice president of North America for Millennium Hotels and Resorts. Most recently, Erik was vice president of hospitality operations for Diamond Hospitality Group, a real estate development company based in Mount Kisco, New York.
At the heart of Erik’s leadership philosophy are the core values of ethics, integrity and transparency. He believes that these principles are not only essential for professional success but also for personal fulfillment. He emphasizes the importance of listening and not prejudging others and fostering an environment where open communication and trust thrive.
“I am very proud of our general managers,” he said. “They embrace challenges, communicate openly and trust each other.” He strives to empower his team, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to succeed. “They are in charge,” he said. “My job is to support them and make sure they have everything in place to be successful. I see my job as leading and inspiring others.”
Erik consistently asks reflective questions, including “What role did I play in it? What would I do differently next time? What would it take to make it happen?” This approach encourages humility, accountability and a culture of continuous improvement. Open communication and listening are key. “If there’s an issue, let’s talk,” he said.
Outside of his professional life, Erik enjoys spending time with his wife and two grown sons. His other passion is playing the guitar, particularly classic and bossa nova, a relaxed style of music from Brazil. He believes in focusing on what you do, taking it seriously, but also having fun and enjoying the process. This balance of work and personal passion is key to his philosophy of living a fulfilling life.
As Erik continues to lead M&R hotel operations, he remains committed to ethical leadership, cultural understanding and team empowerment to drive success. Even after traveling the world, he embraces learning every day, where each experience adds a new layer to his understanding of life and culture. “I am still learning so much every day and do my best to apply it,” he said.
