IHG, Denham, U.K., has appointed Larry Light, former chief marketing officer for fast-food giant McDonald’s, as its new global chief brands officer.
“It is an exciting time for IHG,” Light said. “I am very familiar with the franchise model that IHG operates, and I look forward to working with the talented leadership team to deliver the best brand experience for our guests and better returns for our owners.”
Light joins IHG on the heels of the company’s introduction of the Even and Hualuxe brands, and he also will be tasked with the ongoing development of the Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Indigo, Crowne Plaza, InterContinental, StayBridge Suites and Candlewood Suites brands. He served as CMO for McDonald’s from 2002 to 2005, and he has worked as CEO of brand management consultancy Arcature LLC in addition to roles with Mars, Nissan, 3M and IBM.
“One of our strategic priorities is to develop our brands, and Larry’s wealth of experience and brand expertise will help us build a stronger platform for future growth,” said IHG CEO Richard Solomons.