BETHESDA, Md. — After more than 60 years of leadership, J.W. Marriott, Jr. is retiring from his role as Executive Chairman, effective May 2022. In recognition of his contributions, the board will be designating him Chairman Emeritus, effective immediately following the upcoming 2022 Annual Meeting. In addition, the board has elected David S. Marriott to succeed J.W. Marriott, Jr. as Chairman of the Board.
J.W. Marriott, Jr. became a full-time associate in 1956, and soon afterward began overseeing the first Marriott hotel. He became president of the company in 1964 and CEO in 1972, a role he held for 40 years before stepping down on Mar. 31, 2021. He was elected Chairman of the Board in 1985.
“On behalf of the board and the hundreds of thousands of people who wear a Marriott name badge around the world, I’d like to thank Mr. Marriott for his outstanding leadership throughout his tenure with the company. He is truly an industry icon,” says Anthony Capuano, CEO, Marriott International. “I’d also like to congratulate David Marriott on being elected Chairman of the Board. Not only does he have tremendous operational experience from his career at Marriott, but hospitality is in his DNA. I look forward to working alongside him for years to come.”
David Marriott joined Marriott International in 1999 and was elected as a director in 2021. Prior to joining the board, he held a number of operational roles. Most recently, he was president of U.S. Full Service Managed by Marriott, where he was responsible for overseeing more than 330 hotels under 14 brands in 34 states. David Marriott also served as COO of the Americas Eastern Region from 2010 to 2018 and oversaw the U.S. integration efforts of Marriott’s acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
Furthermore, the board has elected Isabella D. Goren, former CFO of American Airlines, Inc. and its parent, AMR Corporation, as an independent director of the company, effective Mar. 1, 2022. The board has also appointed Goren to the Board’s Audit Committee, effective on the same date. Goren has spent 27 years in the travel business in both corporate and operational roles.
“Bella has a long history in the travel industry, and I couldn’t be more pleased to welcome her to Marriott’s Board of Directors,” says J. Willard Marriott, Jr., Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board. “Marriott will benefit from her valuable experience in finance, loyalty programs, customer service, and management of complex international operations.”
Finally, the board also announced that Lawrence W. Kellner will not stand for re-election at the 2022 Annual Meeting. Kellner has served on the board for nearly 20 years and has served as the independent lead director and chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee since 2013.
“On behalf of the board, I want to thank Larry for his many contributions and for the essential role he has played on the board and as lead director,” says J.W. Marriott, Jr. “Larry is the epitome of what a board member should be — thoughtful, straightforward, knowledgeable and dedicated — and I’m so grateful to him for his service. Fritz will step into the lead director role with ease given his ability to advise at a strategic level complemented by his deep understanding of the company’s operations. I’m grateful to Fritz for stepping into this new role and I know he will continue our board’s tradition of having truly impactful independent leadership.”
