InterContinental Hotels Group has confirmed Kirk Kinsell has been appointed president, the Americas, succeeding current president Jim Abrahamson.

Abrahamson is leaving the IHG to take up the role of chief executive of an independent US lodging company Interstate.

Kinsell, a member of the senior leadership team of IHG since 2002, and an executive board member since 2010, is currently president, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

He will assume his new responsibilities with immediate effect, reporting to incoming chief executive, Richard Solomons.

Following his appointment Kinsell said: “Having spent five years heading the Americas development team before taking up my current role and over seven years leading the Holiday Inn franchise business in the US, I am looking forward to working with the team, taking the region to the next stage.”

Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson, currently chief financial officer of the EMEA region and head of development for Europe will take over from Kirk on an interim basis pending the appointment of a long term successor.

Richard Solomons, incoming IHG chief executive, said: “It is testament to our strong management capability and succession planning that we are able to appoint a highly respected executive to succeed him [Jim Abrahamson].”

“Having held a number of senior leadership roles in the Americas region before taking up his current position in EMEA, Kirk knows the region, the team, the owner community and the business inside out.

“He has done an outstanding job leading our EMEA region and I look forward to him continuing this success in the Americas.