Accor SA, the largest hotel owner in Europe, says that they are replacing chief executive Gilles Pelisson, 53, with the former president of McDonald’s Corp in Europe. Pelisson will resign his position on December 1 after he and the board recognized the strategic differences between them during a meeting this week, but he will remain chairman of the board of directors.

Accor’s board of directors vice chairman Philippe Citerne said that the board is unanimous in thanking Pelisson for his contribution to the company’s development. Over the last 5 years, he has successfully led every stage in its transformation and has helped strengthen its position as a global leader and improve its financial performance in the economic recovery, he added.

Pelisson said that he is proud Accor can take full advantage of the economic recovery now that they are in the best of health and refocused. He has confidence in its successful development, he added, and thanks everyone who worked with him in transforming group.

Denis Hennequin, 52, started working at McDonald’s in 1984 as an assistant manager. He was appointed president and managing director of McDonald’s France in 1996 and then appointed executive vice president of Europe before being made president in 2005. In his latest role, he was responsible for over 6,800 restaurants, generating $9.3 billion in revenues last year.

Hennequin joined Accor in 2009 as a director and will be promoted to chief executive, during which he will lead the company in selling assets to cut debt and become the largest hotel franchiser in Europe by 2015. The company’s current deputy chief executive, Yann Caillere will continue holding his position.