Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson, who built the company into the largest hotel chain in the world and managed it through a global pandemic that has been catastrophic in the travel industry over the past year, has died, the hotel giant said on Tuesday. He was 62.
Sorenson stepped down from his management role earlier this month to pursue a more aggressive cancer treatment. He was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019.
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JW Marriott Jr., the company’s executive chairman, said Sorenson loves every aspect of the hotel industry and loves traveling and meeting employees around the world.
“Arne was an extraordinary driver – but more than that – he was an extraordinary man,” Marriott said in a prepared statement Tuesday.
Sorenson was the first Marriott CEO named not Marriott, and only the third to lead the company in its 93-year history.
Sorenson joined Bethesda, Maryland, in 1996, leaving a partnership in a Washington law firm where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions. He rose to become president and chief operating officer before being named CEO in 2012.
After becoming the top manager of Marriott, he oversaw the $ 13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels in 2016. He drove the international chain to become more sustainable, while also trying to combat human trafficking. He campaigned for gay rights and was overwhelmingly opposed to President Donald Trump’s 2017 travel ban from Muslim countries
Even deep in the coronavirus pandemic, when Marriott’s revenue fell by more than 70%, Sorenson remained optimistic.
“The fact is, people like to travel. They like to travel for themselves personally and they like to travel for work,” Sorenson said in November. “It’s often the most interesting and it’s the place where they’re going to learn the most.”
Tributes poured in Tuesday from business leaders and civic leaders, including Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin. CNBC host Jim Cramer said in a Twitter report that Sorenson believes business is the ‘biggest source of social change’.
“He was an amazing leader who led with empathy, integrity and authenticity,” said General Motors’ chairman and CEO Mary Barra tweeted.
Sorenson served on the board of Microsoft as well as the board of directors for the Special Olympics.
When Sorenson retired from full-time duties this month, Marriott turned to two veteran executives, Stephanie Linnartz and Tony Capuano, to oversee the day-to-day operations. They will continue in these roles until Marriott’s board of directors appoints a new CEO, which is expected to take place within two weeks, the company said.
Sorenson is survived by his wife, Ruth, and four adult children.