Simon F. Cooper is president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.  Mr. Cooper oversees the operations, development and strategic positioning of one of the world’s most powerful brands and luxury groups.  Mr. Cooper is also responsible for the development of Bulgari Hotels, a joint venture between Marriott International, Inc. and Bulgari S.p.A.  The Ritz-Carlton portfolio currently includes 66 hotels in 23 countries.

Since joining the hotel company in February 2001, Mr. Cooper has overseen a major expansion of The Ritz-Carlton brand. Between 2007 and 2009, the award winning hospitality firm will open 33 hotels, 24 Residences, seven Clubs, and three serviced apartments at locations around the world including Dublin, Beijing, St. Lucia and Denver.

Under Mr. Cooper’s leadership, the company continues to earn the highest accolades including designation over the past few years of 24 hotels as winners of the American Automobile Association (AAA) Five Diamond award. Travel Weekly’s Readers Choice Awards cited The Ritz-Carlton as “Best Luxury Hotel Company” and The Luxury Institute named it “Most Prestigious Luxury Brand.”

Mr. Cooper joined The Ritz-Carlton from Marriott International where he served for three years as president of Marriott Lodging Canada and senior vice president of Marriott Lodging International responsible for Canada and New England.

Mr. Cooper began his hospitality career when he immigrated to Canada in 1972 and worked for Canadian Pacific Hotels & Resorts. In 2005, he was elected to the Board of Directors of First Horizon National Corporation.  In 2004, he was appointed to the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Canada Institute Advisory Board.  In 1999, Mr. Cooper was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Governors for the University of Guelph for a three-year term (No. 1 Comprehensive University in Canada, Macleans 99/02.) He is an avid golfer and a member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews in Scotland.

Born and educated in England, Mr. Cooper earned an MBA from the University of Toronto. In 1996 Simon Cooper was awarded the 1995 Commitment to People Award by the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers, recognizing his loyalty to the personal development of his employees.  In 1995, he received an honorary fellowship from Ryerson Polytechnical University.