Arne Sorenson, the third Chief Executive Officer [CEO] in Marriot’s history, stepped away from his management role earlier this month two years after the company revealed his cancer diagnosis died on Monday, the company said.
The company said Sorenson, the first CEO not from the Marriott family, steered the hotel giant “to make significant progress on diversity, equity and inclusion, environmental sustainability and human trafficking awareness,” according to the company.
Two executives filling the management role in Sorenson’s absence, consumer operations chief Stephanie Linnartz and global development head Tony Capuano, will continue in that capacity until the board appoints a new CEO, which is expected within two weeks, the company said.
Sorenson was praised by the company as a “visionary leader,” under whose direction Marriott was able to make the $13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. The company’s statement also praised his progress on issues like diversity, equality and inclusion, environmental sustainability, and human trafficking awareness.
By Our Correspondent