McDonald's Europe chairman and CEO Denis Hennequin next year will assume the chief executive position at European hotel operator Accor

, following a Tuesday vote by Accor's board of directors to remove current CEO Gilles Pelisson. The board cited "strategic differences" in growth plans. Pelisson has led the company since January 2006. Hennequin, who joined Accor's board last year, will become the CEO on 15 January. Until that time, Pelisson will stay on as chairman of Accor's board in a non-executive capacity.