CHECKING IN: In another demonstration of fashion and hospitality being close cousins, luxury hotel operator Jumeirah has recruited Julien Soyez as its new vice president of communications.
Soyez was most recently worldwide press director at Gucci in Milan. The Frenchman has held top communications and marketing roles for a host of marquee brands, including Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and Marc Jacobs.
Soyez began his career in 2001 at Fendi, which like Vuitton and Jacobs is controlled by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, and moved to Vuitton in 2009.
He has a master’s degree in communications, media and sociology from Paris-Sorbonne University, and a bachelor’s degree in literature from Lycée Marc Chagall in Reims, France.
Based in Jumeirah’s Dubai headquarters, Soyez is expected to play a “pivotal role in advancing Jumeirah’s communication strategy, building the brand’s visibility in new markets in line with its global expansion plans,” the company said.
He will also oversee social media and report to Michael Grieve, Jumerieh’s chief brand officer, who also recently joined from Gucci.
Soyez’s “deep understanding of luxury narratives, along with his extensive network, will be instrumental as we look to enhance our visibility with a blend of culture, conversation, and connection that builds our reputation as a brand of influence,” Grieve commented.
In addition, Soyez’s “exposure to art, fashion, and culture will help us identify and leverage the right opportunities to further enhance our brand perception in the luxury hospitality sector,” Grieve added.
Perhaps best known for the ultra-luxurious, sail-shaped hotel the Burj Al Arab, which opened in 1999, Jumeirah today operates 26 properties in the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
It is already present in the Maldives with Jumeirah Olhahali Island, in Italy with Jumeirah Capri Palace, and in London with the Jumeirah Carlton Tower.
