Starwood Hotels Announces Changes to Leadership Team

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced several promotions and changes to its leadership team. The changes came about following the decision to retire by three Starwood executives: Matt Avril, president of the hotel group; Denise Coll, president of Starwood North America; and Miguel Ko, chairman and president of Starwood Asia Pacific.

The planned retirements will take place over the next several months allowing for a transition period to their successors, who are all being promoted from within the company.

Starwood will realign its structure by combining its North America and Latin America operations together into the Americas. In addition, since the geographic footprint of Starwood Vacation Ownership (SVO) falls entirely within the region, Starwood will incorporate SVO into the Americas as well. Starwood also will elevate its leadership in China to reflect that country’s importance to the company.

As part of the organizational changes, the presidents of the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe, Africa and Middle East, will now report directly to Frits van Paasschen, president and CEO of Starwood. Effective July 1, Sergio Rivera, currently president and CEO of SVO, has been promoted to co-president of Starwood Americas. Rivera started his Starwood career 23 years ago at SVO’s predecessor, Vistana Resorts, as corporate controller.

Osvaldo Librizzi, currently president of Latin America and a 37-year Starwood veteran, has been promoted to co-president of the Americas, alongside Rivera, with primary responsibility for Latin America. Librizzi began his career at Starwood as assistant controller at the Sheraton Buenos Aires, and currently oversees hotel operations for Starwood’s 70 properties in Mexico, Central and South America, with an additional 10 properties under construction.

Stephen Ho, currently senior vice president of acquisitions and development for Starwood China, has been promoted to president of Asia Pacific. He has been with Starwood for 31 years, having begun his career as a pastry chef.

Qian Jin, currently head of Starwood’s operations for China, has been promoted to the title of president of Greater China. He has been with Starwood for 26 years. Early in his career Qian was the first Chinese citizen to be identified for talent development at Starwood. He began his career at Starwood in 1986 as deputy general manager of the Hua Ting Sheraton.

Christie Hicks, senior vice president, Starwood Sales Organization, a 12-year Starwood veteran, will now report directly into van Paasschen. John Peyton, currently senior vice president of operations for Starwood North America, has been promoted to the new role of senior vice president of global initiatives. In this position, he will drive the implementation of key strategic priorities across the globe, including procurement, revenue management, and food and beverage. He has been with Starwood for 12 years.

Robert Hermany, currently senior vice president of operations, North America, has been promoted to replace Peyton in an expanded role of chief of North American Operations & Global Initiatives. In this new role, Hermany will manage North American operations, working in close coordination with Peyton to implement key global initiatives across North America. He is a 15-year Starwood veteran.