By DEE-ANN DURBIN, AP Enterprise Author
Marriott Chief Government Arne Sorenson, who grew the corporate into the world’s largest resort chain and steered it by way of a worldwide pandemic that has been catastrophic within the journey trade up to now yr, has died. He was 62.
Sorenson decreased his schedule at Marriott this month to pursue a extra aggressive most cancers remedy. He was first recognized with pancreatic most cancers in 2019.
J.W. Marriott Jr., the corporate’s govt chairman, stated Sorenson cherished each facet of the resort enterprise and relished touring and assembly workers all over the world.
“Arne was an distinctive govt – however greater than that – he was an distinctive human being,” stated Marriott stated in a ready assertion Tuesday.
Sorenson was the primary Marriott CEO whose title was not Marriott, and solely the third to steer the corporate in its 93-year historical past.
Sorenson joined the Bethesda, Maryland, firm in 1996, abandoning a partnership in a Washington regulation agency the place he specialised in mergers and acquisitions. He rose to president and chief working officer earlier than he was named CEO in 2012.
After turning into Marriott’s prime govt, he oversaw the $13 billion acquisition of Starwood Accommodations in 2016. He pushed the worldwide chain to grow to be extra sustainable whereas additionally attempting to fight human trafficking. He advocated for homosexual rights and opposed President Donald Trump’s 2017 ban on journey from majority Muslim nations
Even on the depths of the coronavirus pandemic, when Marriott’s income plunged greater than 70%, Sorenson remained optimistic.
“The very fact of the matter is, folks like to journey. They like to journey for themselves personally they usually like to journey for work,” Sorenson stated din November. “It’s typically probably the most fascinating and it’s the place they’re going to be taught probably the most.”
Tributes poured in Tuesday from enterprise and civic leaders, together with Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin. CNBC host Jim Cramer stated in a Twitter publish that Sorenson believed enterprise was the best supply for social change.
“He was a beautiful chief who led with empathy, integrity and authenticity,” Common Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra tweeted.
Sorenson served on Microsoft’s board of administrators in addition to the board of administrators for the Particular Olympics.
When Sorenson stepped again from full-time duties this month, Marriott turned to 2 veteran executives, Stephanie Linnartz and Tony Capuano, to supervise day-to-day operations. They are going to proceed in these roles till Marriott’s board names a brand new CEO, which is anticipated to occur inside two weeks, the corporate stated.
Sorenson is survived by his spouse, Ruth, and 4 grownup kids.
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