Keith Barr will take up the new role of chief commercial officer at InterContinental Hotels Group, effective from June 1st 2013.

The role takes responsibility for IHG’s global sales, marketing and brands functions, to drive consistent brand strategies across all geographies and leverage IHG’s scale and systems to deliver continued industry leading performance.

Kenneth MacPherson will be taking over from Keith as chief executive, Greater China.

MacPherson joins IHG from Diageo, where he is currently general manager and Board Director of Sichuan Shuijingfang Company, a RMB 9.4 billion company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange as Sichuan Swellfun Company.

Kenneth has been based in China since 2005, having previously led the development of Diageo’s China strategy.

He will assume his role with IHG in April 2013, and will also become a member of the executive committee reporting to chief executive, Richard Solomons.

“With preferred brands and best in class delivery at the heart of IHG’s strategy, this is the right time to bring our global brands, sales and distribution functions under one leader,” said Solomons.

“Keith’s operational expertise and considerable experience in brand management and revenue generation make him the ideal person for this new role,” Solomons concluded.