Marriott International in major revamp has appointed Arne Sorenson as the new president and CEO effective from March 31.

Sorenson, presently the president and chief operating officer at Marriott, will be the third CEO in the company’s history, said the company board after its meeting.

JW Bill Marriott, Jr., currently the chairman of the board and CEO, has been appointed the new executive chairman and board chairman.

The announcement come as the top lodging company with over 3,600 properties in 71 countries, gets ready to celebrate its 85th anniversary next year, said a Marriott statement.

The board also appointed Robert McCarthy, currently group president for the company, as Marriott International’s chief operations officer. All three appointments are effective March 31, 2012.

Announcing the key leadership appointments, Bill Marriott said, 'As we approach the 85th birthday of our company in 2012 and I proudly celebrate my 60th year of service, I decided to recommend to the board that Sorenson take over the CEO responsibilities.'

'He knows the business, lives our core values, and has earned the respect and admiration of all of our company’s major stakeholders,' said Marriott.

'I have been so fortunate to have worked with some of the most talented people in the world over the past six decades,' remarked Marriott.

'As executive chairman, in addition to my ongoing role as chairman of the board, I will continue to share my experience with our senior management team as we pursue our paths of growth and face the cyclical events I have confronted so many times in my career.'

On his appointment, Sorenson said, 'I am grateful to Bill and the board for their confidence, and I am tremendously optimistic about the future of our company, which continues to benefit from  Marriott’s wise, visionary and steady leadership.'

'With deeply embedded core values that have enabled us to succeed for 85 years, I am looking forward to an exciting road ahead for Marriott International,' he noted.

Discussing McCarthy’s appointment, Bill said, “In his new role, Bob will continue to have oversight for our Global Lodging Services division and for our Ritz-Carlton brand.'

'In addition, the presidents of our four continental operating divisions will have co-reporting relationships to Bob along with their primary reporting responsibilities to Arne as chief executive officer,' he stated.

'As a 35-year veteran of the company, Bob has made significant contributions to our growth and performance and has distinguished himself with his business leadership and stewardship of our company culture.'

'His career, which began as a Marriott restaurant waiter, is a tribute to the opportunity that is possible at Marriott,' Bill added.

“Looking ahead, I have never been more confident about our company and its future. Our culture of service is as strong as ever and we continue to open doors to opportunity throughout the world,” he said.

'It’s amazing to me what we have accomplished over the years together, from a small root beer stand in Washington, D.C. to a global lodging powerhouse with operations in more than 70 countries,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service