Michaël Chanteloup, SK 2013, CFO of AccorHotels Cuba: “To really get ahead, you have to take risks”.

Michaël Chanteloup (SK 2013), CFO of AccorHotels in Cuba since June 2017, talks to us about his international career and his daily life as an expat.

Can you tell us about your tertiary qualifications and your work experience?

Michaël Chanteloup: After completing an undergraduate diploma in Hotel Management and spending a year in Scotland during which I specialised in Finance, I joined SKEMA. Its global ambition is what really drew me in. At the time, I already knew I’d work abroad. As part of my Master’s degree at SKEMA (2010-2013) I got to do a few work placements - in France and Australia - and my final year as combined work-study at IBM, in business consulting and information systems. I was in a rather technical environment and I learned a lot there that is still useful to me today. After a small detour via FMCG, as business developer for Mars, I joined Pernod-Ricard in 2014. I started as a sales analyst before being promoted to the role of International Business Developer for the French West Indies.  I was in charge of distributing all our brands and liaising with importers in my zone, which had huge growth potential. It was the 10th biggest market in the world for Mumm champagne. Pernod-Ricard is a highly innovative and visionary company. At just 27 years old, I already had a very high level of autonomy in my work and was allowed to present my strategic vision. It was such a fantastic experience and I was making even bigger strides towards a position abroad.

If you were thriving in a stimulating work environment, what made you decide to join AccorHotels in Cuba as Chief Financial Officer?

I’m very curious by nature, and hungry for adventure and challenges. I’ve always loved breaking out of my comfort zone. It’s my philosophy. I believe that to really get ahead, you have to take risks. It was the right time to make my next move. I’d been working in the international business sector for years, and Accor gave me the opportunity to take up a position abroad.  I’d been looking for a job in Mexico initially, but with this offer I ended up in Cuba instead.

What does your current position entail?  

I’m a real Swiss army knife. I oversee anything to do with accounting, financial forecasts, turnover, and the various legal and administrative aspects of our establishments on the island. Alongside that, I also work a lot on our strategy and developing our offering, in close collaboration with the local teams in Mexico and Canada. My position has massively evolved since I arrived in June 2017. I’m a driving force and I try to contribute by constantly seeking out information and suggesting innovations.

What’s it like to work in Cuba? What are your main difficulties and sources of satisfaction?

I had some knowledge of Cuba for having travelled there, so I wasn’t going in blind. Working there is really interesting.  You have to do quite a bit of soul-searching and in just under two years I’ve matured so much from that. As for the difficulties, I’d say you need to be able to adapt quickly to different models and always stay patient, flexible and receptive when sometimes you’d like things to move faster. When employees from another culture trust you, it’s highly rewarding and gives you real credibility to move forward. Accor is a very dynamic and adaptable company that knows exactly where it’s going.  On a personal level, I feel good here. Like I belong. Human values are very much accentuated and I’ve become even more open-minded.

Some might think that, given the country’s history and political regime, developing a business here would be even tougher than elsewhere. Do you think there’s any truth to that? And particularly in the Tourism sector, which is still, for the most part, controlled by the government?

Given its size and its 11 million inhabitants, Cuba is a dynamic country that has great potential when it comes to tourism.  The market isn’t saturated; it’s actually booming and recently we’ve seen chains like Melia, Iberostar, Mariott and NH pursue their development and new players like Kempinski or MGM Muthu arrive on the scene.

For the Ministry of Tourism it’s a big plus to be able to work with international industry experts. Accor, for example, has been established here for 25 years and, via its Web platform, has greatly contributed to meeting the island’s tourism demand.  We have some great projects in the pipeline, like SO Sofitel Habana Paseo del Prado, a luxury hotel in the capital that’s due to open in September 2019.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

Five years ago I never would’ve guessed that I’d be here today. Accor is a major hotel chain with lots of opportunities and I really like this region. Maybe I’ll want to manage a larger zone in the financial sector? Or move on to a more operational role? I move forward by instinct, always ready to seize opportunities. One thing is sure, I can’t see myself returning to France just yet.

In hindsight, what has SKEMA contributed to your career?

The school’s reputation gave me credibility and certainly played a part in opening some doors for me. SKEMA’s programme, which covers a very wide range of subjects while providing highly specialised training, helped me get my career off the ground. I think it’s also where I really developed my drive to constantly push myself further and my taste for life abroad.

Interview by Marie-Parlange (lepetitjournal.com) for SKEMA Alumni