After more than 60 years of leadership, Mr. J.W. Marriott, Jr. confirmed to the Board of Directors of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ; MAR) that he plans to retire as Executive Chairman in May and will not stand for re-election to the Board at the upcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In recognition of Mr. Marriott’s leadership and his significant contributions to the Company, the Board formally designated him Chairman Emeritus, effective immediately following the upcoming 2022 Annual Meeting. In addition, the Board has elected Mr. David S. Marriott to succeed Mr. J.W. Marriott, Jr. as Chairman of the Board, also effective immediately following the Annual Meeting.
David Marriott joined Marriott International in 1999 and was elected as a director in 2021. Prior to joining the Board, David held a number of operational roles during his tenure with the company, including most recently as the President, U.S. Full Service Managed by Marriott, where he was responsible for oversight of more than 330 hotels operating under 14 brands in 34 states. In this capacity, he oversaw Hotel Operations, Human Resources, Sales & Marketing, Finance, Market Strategy, Information Resources and Development & Feasibility. Previously, David served as Chief Operations Officer - The Americas Eastern Region from 2010 to 2018 and he also oversaw the U.S. integration efforts of Marriott s acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Prior positions at the company include Market Vice President and Senior Vice President of Global Sales, where he helped lead a comprehensive transformation of Marriott s U.S. sales organization. David is a graduate of the University of Uta