Biography

Jean-François Dor

  

An articulate, resourceful, creative and keen achiever with heaps of experience in hospitality, public relations and marketing. Extremely organised with the skills, determination and flexibility to deliver fruitful and high-profile projects.  

 

Loves challenges leading team(s) and delivering results.  I get people together and make it happen. 

 

Achievements 

 

  • Increased revenue of R.S. Hispaniola by 50% within three months and doubled the turnover within six months of taking over by negotiating pricing and fees with suppliers, eliminated pilferage and trained the staff to up sell with a smile. Put the venue on the map, starting by A to Z and negotiated a unique postcode with the Post Office. I made the venue the centre of attention in the Oil Week and other yearly occurence with various other corporate entities, hosting various head of states. 

 

  • Organises a variety of prestigious events of up to 10,000 delegates with budgets in six figures, a few in the Presence of H.M. The Queen Elizabeth II and H.R.H The Duke of Edinburgh. 

 

  • Owns a database of high net worth individuals, associations, buyers and suppliers, constantly updated. 

 

 

  • Increased monthly meeting attendance and membership of various other  clubs by ten folds.

 

  • Raised several hundred thousand pounds towards various projects in association with The Rotary Club and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, particularly matching their grant of $150 million to eradicate polio worldwide.

 

  • Named the most well connected person at a dinner in the City of London.


Languages 

 

Fluent French and English. 

 

Memberships 


Freeman of the City of London 

The Whitefriars Club 

The Anglo-Belgian Society 

The Arts Club

The Civil Service Club

Orford House

 

Employment History 

 

2009 – Present        Events, Marketing and Public Relations 

                                Freelance 

                                Produce up to 120 special events a year for various networks, societies, clubs, charities                                    and corporations. During these years I created an exclusive portfolio of PR &                                                    marketing, networking, fundraising, exhibitions, incentive travel, destination                                                    management, launch & awards and other events.

 

2003 – 2009             Events Director  

                                 DRM – Destination and Resources Management 

                                 International event director for all special events of this group based in Geneva with                                         offices in Montreal, Madrid, Vienna, Paris, Croatia, Brussels and responsible for the                                         London office. Clients included the Kofi Anan Foundation and the Olympic                                                     Committee. 

 

1992 – 2003             General Manager  

                                 Restaurant Ship Hispaniola (RSH), Victoria Embankment, London 

                                 Overall responsibility in partnership with the owner with a staff of over 100 full and                                         part-time positions. Hispaniola was used mainly for private and corporate events for up                                   to 500 people with a sought-after restaurant and a bar with magnificent views of the                                        Thames.  Then part of a group of 9 restaurants and 3 hotels.

 

Prior to this I worked in various senior positions, including several Michelin starred restaurant, including:  

  • The Green Park Hotel – Mayfair, London- now Hilton,  
  • Borde Hill Restaurant and Conference Centre, Haywards Heath - West Sussex.
  • Roux Restaurant Ltd- In house catering-London, including Le Gavroche, Waterside  Inn, Mazarin and various Banks in the City of London such as Paribas, bringing three stars Michelin standard to the City and organised various prestigious events, receptions and exhibitions for clients. 
  • Club Prince Albert, Brussels, Belgium-Entertained visiting Heads of States and Military from countries around the world. 
  • La Villa Lorraine, Brussels, Belgium- First three stars Michelin outside France. 

 

Non Executive Positions 

  

2012–Present           Chairman               Gay Business Association             

2015–Present           Board Member       myGwork 

 

Prior Non-Executive Positions 

 

2008–2017               Vice-Chairman                             The Eccentric Club 

2014–2016               Director & Trustee                      Positive East 

2011–2016               Internship Supervisor (Maître de Stage) 

  • RennesUniversity - Master management & marketing  International,  
  • Lycee Jean Monnet Saint Etienne Business School - International Commerce
  • Academie de Grenoble - International Trade
  • BusinessManagement School of Vendee 

 

2006–2013               Chairman               The Arts Club Charitable Trust 

2001–2012               Trustee                   The Royal Belgian Benevolent Society  

2005-2009                Treasurer

2008–2012                Event Director      The Worshipful Company of Marketors 

2008–2011                Director                 The Britain-China Trade Association 

2001–2011                Director                 The Royal Anglo-Belgian Club  

2004–2009               Member                  Consultant Group Institute of Fundraising 

2006–2008               Director                  The Association for Conference and Events 

1996–2003               Chairman               Events Committee of the Arts Club 

1996–2012               Chairman               Events Committee of the Anglo-Belgian Society 

1996–2001               Director                 The Arts Club (London) Limited 

 

Work placements/Internship  

 

Comme Chez Soi, Brussels (Three stars Michelin) and various other Relais et Chateaux and Small Luxury Hotels; Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (S.H.A.P.E.) - American and Belgian Officer’s Club.  

 

Education and Training 

 

  • Hotel & Catering Management & Baccalaureate (BA, Hons)- Belgium
  • Economic and Social Studies - Belgium.
  • Public Relations, CityUniversity 
  • History of ArtWestminster College  
  • New Entrepreneur Scholarship - Business Planning  
  • Springboard Ambassador Programme
  • Red Cross firstaid Diploma 
  • Management Course – Learning Tree

 

 

Prior Memberships 

  

Institute of Directors (Fellow) 

The Institute of Fundraising 

Meetings and Incentive Associations 

UK Marketing Network 

Rotary Club of London  

Meeting Professional International 

Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce 

Association of Events Manager 

The Worshipful Company of Marketors 

The Bishopsgate Ward Club.  

 

 

Online Networks 

 

FacebookLinkedIN

 

Hobbies 

 

Painting, drawing, dancing, travelling, walking, enjoying the arts, people and life.