Marriott International Inc. has hired Tony Capuano as its new CEO and has selected a longtime veteran of the world’s largest hotel company to take it through the industry’s most crippling period.
Mr. Capuano, 55, has been with the company for 25 years and was most recently a group chairman responsible for leading Marriott’s global development, design efforts and operations.
He takes over after former CEO and president Arne Sorenson passed away last week. Mr. Sorenson was diagnosed with stage 2 pancreatic cancer in 2019. Stephanie Linnartz, 52, a Marriott group president who oversees consumer, technology and emerging business operations, is the company’s new president.
Running Marriott, a global colossus with 1.4 million rooms, Mr. Capuano takes on one of the most challenging jobs in all of corporate America.
The hotel industry is still reeling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused global travel to dry up, shut down hotels in U.S. cities, and result in forced layoffs and industry-wide leave . Mr. Capuano also replaces a beloved CEO who made a point of contact with everyone from the company’s group leaders to housekeepers.