Arne Sorenson, President and CEO of Marriott International Inc., smiles at a luncheon at the Chicago Executives Club in Chicago, Illinois, USA, on Wednesday, April 3, 2019.
Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Arne Sorenson, who turned Marriott International into the world’s largest hotel chain after acquiring Starwood Hotels & Resorts in a $ 13 billion deal in 2016, has died. He was 62 years old and was undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer, the company announced on Tuesday.
Sorenson, the third CEO in Marriott history and the first outside the founding family, died Monday, the company said.
Sorenson has expanded Marriott’s global presence under dozens of brands, including W Hotels, Ritz-Carlton, Courtyard and Sheraton.
In the last year, he has had to run the business through the Covid pandemic, which has brought most global and domestic travel to a standstill.
“Arne was an exceptional executive – but more than that – he was an exceptional human being,” said JW Marriott Jr., executive chairman and chairman of the board. “Arne loved every aspect of this business and enjoyed the time we spent touring our hotels and meeting with associates around the world. He had an extraordinary ability to anticipate where the hospitality industry is heading and position Marriott for growth. Husband, father “Brother and friend. On behalf of the board and hundreds of thousands of Marriott associates around the world, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Arne’s wife and four children. We share your suffering and will miss Arne deeply.”
The hotel operator had announced in May 2019 that Sorenson had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Earlier this month, he shared the news that the CEO will temporarily reduce his work schedule to suit more demanding treatment.
Earlier this year, Marriott called on two directors – Stephanie Linnartz, chair of the Consumer Operations, Technology and Emerging Business Group; and Tony Capuano, chair of the Global Development, Design and Operations Services Group – to oversee day-to-day operations, complementing Sorenson.
The company said Tuesday that Linnartz and Capuano will continue to do so until the board appoints a new CEO, who is expected to be within two weeks.
Marriott shares rose less than 1% in premarket trading on Tuesday, after falling by about 12% in the last 12 months. The hotel operator has a market capacity of almost $ 42 billion.