Bermuda registered Orient-Express Hotels, owners or part-owners and managers of 49 luxury hotel, restaurant, tourist train and river cruise properties in 25 countries, has named James B. Hurlock non-executive Chairman of the Board.

Mr. Hurlock succeeds company founder James B. Sherwood, who announced in December last year he would step down from the chairmanship following this month's annual general meeting.

Mr. Sherwood founded Orient-Express Hotels in 1976 and will remain as a non-executive director with the designation 'director and founder'.

His successor Mr. Hurlock has served on the Orient-Express Hotels board since May 2000 and serves on its nominating and governance, audit and compensation committees.

He is a partner (retired) of White and Case LLP, attorneys, where he was chairman of the management committee from 1980 to 2000, overseeing the firm's worldwide operations. He has particular expertise in corporate governance.

In a statement the board of Orient-Express Hotels expressed its "deep gratitude and admiration" to Mr. Sherwood for his 31 years of leadership, "which saw Orient-Express Hotels grow from small beginnings with the acquisition of the carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, to a company which today has a diversified portfolio of lodging and travel assets."