These appointments follow the unexpected passing of Marriot’s former president and CEO, Arne Sorenson.
Marriott International’s board of directors has announced that Anthony ‘Tony’ Capuano has been appointed chief executive officer and that Stephanie Linnartz has been appointed president, with both roles effective immediately.
Capuano was previously group president, global development, design and operations services, and Linnartz previously occupied the position of group president, consumer operations, technology and emerging businesses.
“Tony has played a critical role in Marriott’s growth over the last decade. He will be a terrific leader as we continue to advance our growth strategy while also navigating the market dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr., executive chairman and chairman of the board, Marriott International.
“He works thoughtfully and pragmatically with our owner and franchisee community and has been steadfast in ensuring Marriott delivers operational excellence and elevated customer experiences at our properties. Tony has a deep appreciation for Marriott’s thousands of associates who ultimately deliver on our customer and brand promise and I know he will be a superb steward of our culture. Together with Stephanie in the role of president, and the rest of our exceptional leadership team, Marriott could not be in better hands.”
During Capuano’s tenure leading global development, Marriott grew its footprint from 3,200 locations in early 2009 to over 7,600 properties by the end of 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led Marriott’s work on its Commitment to Clean initiative, designed to enhance Marriott’s already substantial cleaning protocols.
“I am honored to be appointed to take the helm of Marriott, but it is a bittersweet moment. Arne was a mentor, a champion, and a friend to each member of his close-knit leadership team,” said Capuano.
“It is because of Arne’s efforts that we are prepared to move forward with this transition. Together, we will advance the strategy we have in place, which is laser-focused on recovery, expansion, providing opportunities for our associates, maintaining constructive relationships with our owners and franchisees, delivering safe and innovative experiences for our guests and customers, and building value for our shareholders.”
As president of Marriott International, Linnartz will be responsible for developing and executing all aspects of the company’s global consumer strategy, including brand, marketing, sales, revenue management, customer engagement, digital, information technology, emerging businesses, and loyalty strategies.
“Stephanie has a leadership track record and clear vision for how our core lodging business, travel platform initiatives, and loyalty strategies can work together to accelerate growth,” said Mr. Marriott. “Her deep experience across our business will enable her to work seamlessly with our owners and franchisees, innovate for our guests and customers, and champion new opportunities for our associates. Tony and Stephanie are exactly the CEO and president we need as we continue to push forward towards recovery and growth in the years ahead.”
In her previous role with the organization, Linnartz played a pivotal role during Marriott’s acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, overseeing the integration of business-critical systems including reservations, property management, revenue management, and loyalty.
In 2019, under her leadership, the company combined the Marriott and Starwood loyalty programs to create the world’s largest hospitality loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy, which currently has more than 147 million global members.
“Every member of the leadership team feels a profound sense of loss at Arne’s passing. He was not just a friend and a leader for us, he was a guidepost for the hospitality industry,” said Linnartz. “The best way we can honor Arne’s memory is to continue to move the company forward. It is my privilege to take on the role of president and to work with Tony and the rest of the executive team to ensure a seamless transition and to successfully execute our strategy.”
