26 March 2009

Marriott goes outside the family for a family man

BETHESDA, MD Ã¢â¬' Marriott Hotels appears to have anointed its next chief executive Ã¢â¬' and for once it wonÃ¢â¬â¢t be a member of the Marriott family.

Writing in e-Hotelier.com, Michael S. Rosenwald suggests that 50-year-old Arne Sorenson is the leading candidate to succeed Bill Marriott atop the family hotel chain.

Marriott promoted him last week to president and chief operating officer - a move that Wall Street analysts say is the clearest signal yet that Sorenson will one day become chief executive.

While he won't detail the company's succession plan, 76-year-old Marriott said, "The board doesn't lay awake at night and say what happens if Bill Marriott gets hit by a truck tomorrow."

Sorenson's possible ascension to an office that has always been occupied by a Marriott family member would mark a turning point in the company's history.

How he got there and how he won the level of trust Marriott has placed in him is, on the surface, a distinct study in contrasts.

Sorenson is fairly hip. Marriott listens to Glenn Miller. And then there are the cars: Marriott prefers fast ones and keeps a stable of Ferraris. Sorenson drives a Prius.

But both men, as well as those who have watched Sorensen's career unfold, say that there is more that links them than divides them.

Most important is a connection formed through religion and family values. Marriott is a Mormon and a high-ranking member in the church. Sorenson's father was a Lutheran minister.

Sorenson's wife traveled around singing religious songs in her family's choir. Even today, according to their friends, the Sorensons will often break out into song at the family dinner table.

Bill Marriott appears to have fully endorsed Sorenson lifestyle and personal characteristics.

"Arne's humble," he said. "He's not arrogant. He's not saying, 'I'm the next guy.' He's not running around here with a flag saying, 'I'm it. I'm it.'

Ã¢â¬ÅâœHe's not a big shot. He's not a master of the universe, which is the last thing we need around here. This is a company that goes on family values and a degree of humility.Ã¢â¬~

Source: e-hotelier.com