Stephen Lancaster Appointed Executive Chef of Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi and SÉZANNE

Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi announces the appointment of Stephen Lancaster as Executive Chef, assuming leadership of the hotel’s culinary operations and its celebrated three-Michelin-starred French restaurant, SÉZANNE, effective April 1, 2026.

Lancaster succeeds Daniel Calvert, under whose leadership SÉZANNE has earned international recognition as one of the world’s most compelling dining destinations. In naming Lancaster, Calvert identified a chef he believes will uphold the restaurant’s defining philosophy while guiding its continued evolution.

Widely respected by peers and critics, Lancaster brings an international perspective shaped by experience in some of the world’s most distinguished kitchens, including Midsummer House in Cambridge and Oaxen Krog in Stockholm. In 2022, he opened Poise in Singapore, earning a Michelin star in its first year of operation and establishing a clear culinary identity rooted in precision and restraint.

Born in Tavistock, Devon, Lancaster’s stellar career has been defined by a disciplined approach to craft and a deep respect for ingredients. His cooking reinterprets French classics through contemporary techniques, with considered use of fermentation, ageing and pickling to build depth, texture and clarity of flavour. At SÉZANNE, he will continue to honour Japanese seasonality and provenance, ensuring the restaurant remains both globally relevant and locally grounded.

General Manager Jens Wycisk comments, “Stephen represents the next chapter for SÉZANNE. His leadership brings continuity of standards alongside a confidence and creative sensitivity that will allow the restaurant to continue progressing while remaining true to what has made it so highly regarded. I would also like to thank Daniel for the legacy he leaves behind. Through his clarity of vision and exacting approach, he has shaped SÉZANNE into one of the world’s most respected dining destinations, and he leaves the restaurant in exceptionally capable hands as he moves on to his next chapter.”

With Lancaster at the helm, guests can expect a dining experience that builds on the team’s meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment, moving forward with purpose and refinement in a way that reflects the enduring dedication of Four Seasons to craftsmanship and exceptional hospitality.