Ed Fuller to retire from Marriott
Marriott president and managing director of international lodging Ed Fuller is to step down from the company.
Fuller, who led operations during Marriott’s growth outside of North America, will retire from the company on March 31st 2012.
In the role, Fuller saw the group grow from 16 hotels to more than 550 today in more than 70 countries. Approximately 175 additional hotels are currently under development outside the United States.
Having recently published a book about managing growth and change, entitled ‘You Can’t Lead with Your Feet on the Desk’, Fuller played an integral role in Marriott’s international growth, and most recently has been focused on guiding Marriott’s operations in the Middle East and Africa in the midst of major regional turbulence.
Arne Sorenson, Marriott’s president and chief operating officer, said: “We will miss Ed’s insights and tremendous grasp of the industry as we continue the global growth for which he was a powerful advocate.
“We wish him continued great success as he travels the road ahead.”
Upon retirement, Fuller plans to serve as an adjunct professor at the Paul Merage Graduate School of Business at the University of California Irvine and visiting professor at Boston University.
He will also be president of Laguna Strategic Advisors LLC in addition to his continued work with business and charity boards.
Joining the company in 1972, Fuller was appointed chief sales and marketing officer for Marriott Hotels in 1977.
He also served as general manager of key hotels in the Northeast US and as regional vice president in the United States.
He assumed leadership of Marriott’s international lodging operations in 1991 as senior vice president and managing director, was promoted to executive vice president, and was named president and managing director in 1997.