After several years leading Sunlife and contributing to the creation and structuring of RIVEO, Francois Eynaud will retire from his executive responsibilities on 30th September 2026. He will remain on the Board as a Non-Executive Director and continue to act as a strategic advisor to both Sunlife and RIVEO, ensuring continuity of operations and a smooth transition.
Francois has played a central role in shaping the direction of both entities. At Sunlife, he led a significant repositioning of the group, refining its brand, strengthening its positioning and bringing greater consistency to the way hospitality is delivered across its resorts. At RIVEO, he was key in bringing together a portfolio of high-quality assets within a clear and structured framework.
In this context, Joelle Edwards-Tonks will be appointed to take over as Chief Executive Officer of Sunlife, as from 1st October 2026. Currently Chief Commercial and Operations Officer, she has been closely involved in the group’s development over the past five years, including the successful rebranding of Sunlife. Her role spans both commercial and operational functions, enabling her to contribute directly to performance and to the way the guest experience is delivered across the group. Prior to joining Sunlife, she held senior leadership roles within leading international hospitality groups, including Oetker Collection, where she led sales, marketing and communications across multiple functions, as well as at Shangri-La Hotel and Four Seasons, Paris. Her experience across high-end hospitality environments provides a strong foundation in brand positioning, commercial strategy and operational alignment.
At RIVEO, Gregory Coquet will be appointed to take over as Chief Executive Officer as from the same date. In his current capacity as Chief Operations and Asset Management Officer, he has contributed to the structuring and management of the portfolio and has been closely involved in RIVEO’s development. He brings over two decades of experience in international hospitality, having begun his career in Europe before taking on senior leadership roles in Mauritius. He notably served as General Manager of Shangri-La Le Touessrok, which is part of the RIVEO portfolio, after holding earlier leadership roles across high-end resort environments on the island. His career has given him a broad operational grounding across key hotel functions, as well as a strong understanding of resort dynamics and guest experience standards. His progression within the group reflects a close and continuous involvement in RIVEO’s development, from its early stages to its current structure. He will now lead the business with a focus on disciplined execution and long-term value.
This transition forms part of a structured succession approach, ensuring continuity in leadership while enabling both entities to build on the momentum achieved in recent years. A transition period will take place over the coming months to support a smooth handover and maintain operational continuity across both entities.
We would like to thank Francois for his leadership and continued contribution at Board level, and wish Joelle and Gregory every success in their new responsibilities.
