François Leroux is vice president of consumer businesses and the chief guest experience officer at the Culinary Institute of America, where he leads the institution’s portfolio of consumer-facing businesses, including food and beverage enthusiast programs, retail activities, visitor experiences, and restaurant operations in New York and across all U.S. branch campuses.
Leroux is a global leader who has designed innovative and disruptive guest experiences for world-class brands, including Disney, Cirque du Soleil, Endemol, Solotech, and Carnival Corporation. His work spans entertainment, hospitality, food and beverage, reality television, and media across theme parks, cruise lines, stadiums, and festivals.
Most recently, in his role at Carnival Corporation, he led the launch of the Ocean Medallion wearable technology, created Emmy-nominated shows, and delivered the first-ever Consumer Electronics Show keynote focused on hospitality.
His work consistently blends digital innovation with storytelling, operational excellence, and measurable business impact. Leroux is known for building collaborative teams and implementing systems that turn ambitious ideas into intuitive, human-centered experiences that keep the guest at the heart of the journey.
Leroux graduated with a degree in Law from the University of Quebec in Montreal and a degree in Human Sciences from the College Edward Mont-Petit in Longueuil, Quebec.
A native of Montreal, Leroux is bilingual in both French and English. A devoted foodie, he enjoys exploring the rich cultural offerings of the Hudson Valley on his motorcycle, just as he has navigated the vibrant streets of Amsterdam, Tokyo, Santa Monica, Paris, Orlando, Las Vegas, and Miami throughout his career.