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Starwood Hotels & Resorts Names Martha Poulter New Chief Information Officer

By: Starwood Hotels & Resorts |  0 Shares     104 Reads

Longtime GE Capital Technology Veteran to Lead Starwood's Growing Global IT Organization

STAMFORD, Conn. - May 22, 2014 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced the appointment of Martha Poulter, former Chief Information Officer of GE Capital, as the company's new Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer effective June 23, 2014. Poulter will be a member of Starwood's Senior Leadership Team and report to President and CEO Frits van Paasschen. She succeeds Roger Berry, who is set to retire in the end of June and will stay on as a consultant to Starwood through year-end to ensure a smooth transition.

"As we transform the way we use technology to keep pace with the fast-changing expectations of our guests, we are delighted to welcome Martha to our team in this key leadership role," said van Paasschen. "In addition to her significant experience leading a large global IT organization, Martha impressed us with her ability to connect legacy platforms with new world technologies. Her innovative approach is exactly what we were looking for as we continue to significantly invest in technology and talent."

A 25-year technology veteran, Poulter most recently served as Vice President and Chief Information Officer, GE Capital, with global responsibility for IT strategy and operations leading a 4,000-person global organization. Since joining General Electric in 1995, Poulter held a series of senior information technology leadership positions such as eBusiness Vice President, Quality Leader, and regional Americas Chief Information Officer for GE Capital, where she was responsible for many operational excellence improvements and the completion of key digitization projects, including the Company's first customer mobile apps for commercial businesses.

van Paasschen added, "Martha will lead a seasoned global IT team that is well integrated into virtually every aspect of our business including brands and global operations. I would like to thank Roger for his leadership over the last three years and the critical role he has played in upgrading our IT systems, making them scalable, flexible and secure, and building a strong and agile team to support our ambitious technology agenda. We wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement."

Poulter is a Board Member of the Hispanic Federation and the Norwalk Community College Foundation. She graduated with a B.S.E. degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Connecticut and completed her M.B.A. at the University of New Haven.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with nearly 1,200 properties in 100 countries, and 181,400 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element®. The Company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG®), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

SOURCE Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Contacts:

K.C. Kavanagh
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Media Relations
203-964-4170

Carrie Bloom
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Media Relations
203-964-5755

Stephen Pettibone
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc
Investor Relations
203-351-3500

 

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