Accor hired Paris law firm BDGS to probe accusations of conflict of interest and favouritism against CEO Sébastien Bazin after an anonymous document. The probe examined links to Paris Society, the hospitality business owned by Bazin’s close associate Laurent de Gourcuff, and a 2025 appointment of a senior adviser linked to Bazin.

Lead investigator Antoine Gosset‑Grainville concluded the allegations were without merit. Accor’s board “unanimously endorsed” the findings, closed the investigation and said it would defend its legal rights against baseless claims.

The inquiry came amid other scrutiny, including short‑seller Grizzly Research’s allegations of human‑trafficking risks and activist Parvus Asset Management’s 15 % stake. Accor operates over 5,000 hotels across 45 brands and has expanded beyond Europe into Asia and the Middle East, but its shares lag the market.

Bazin, who will step down by May 2028, has turned Accor into an asset‑light franchise operator. The company’s governance and succession planning remain under internal review as it prepares for a new CEO.