Marriott International appointed Jim Scholefield chief information and digital officer. He most recently was chief information and digital officer at Merck & Co., one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. He led Merck’s information technology and digital strategy to drive efficiencies, strengthen the infrastructure’s security and support the company’s growth. Prior to Merck, Scholefield was chief information officer at Nike, where he led digital transformation and enterprise IT capability improvements for infrastructure and cybersecurity.
“Jim will play a pivotal role in driving our technology modernization efforts as we embark on a new chapter in the company’s technology journey to support our future growth, both within our core lodging business and new ventures,” said Stephanie Linnartz, Marriott’s group president, consumer operations, technology and emerging businesses. Scholefield “brings incredible experience to Marriott, having led technology transformations at major global corporations for more than 30 years.”
Charlestowne Hotels named three general managers: Sam Atwood is general manager at The Atlantic Hotel & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Sean Copley is general manager at The Bristol Hotel in Bristol, Virginia; and Todd Buchko is general manager at Origin Raleigh in Raleigh, North Carolina. Atwood’s appointment is his fourth general manager position, while Copley spent the majority of his career at Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis properties. Buchko most recently lead the team at a property on the St. Lawrence River in New York.
Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection, opening soon in Austin, Texas, appointed Brett Briseno director of sales and marketing. He was director of sales and marketing at W Austin Hotel & Residences.
Damien Craft is general manager at Canyon Ranch Wellness Retreat in Woodside, California. Craft formerly was director of spa and wellness for The Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara, California.
Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando named the executive leadership team for Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites, opening mid-March in Orlando, Florida. George Cronk is managing director, Leonard Kong is hotel manager, Phil Klinkenberg is director of food and beverage, Stephanie Legros is director of human resources, Carla Simpson is director of finance, Khalid Benghallem is executive chef, Marty Grozdanich is director of housekeeping, and Edwin Millan is director of engineering.
Amilla Fushi in Maldives named Victoria Kruse sustainability manager, a newly created position. She recently spent more than two years at Six Senses Fiji on Malolo Island, Fiji, where she was responsible for running the Wellness Kitchen.
Dan Grunbeck is executive chef of the bar and culinary concepts within Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs in Palm Springs, California. Grunbeck comes to the property from The Lodge and Spa at Brush Creek Ranch in Saratoga, Wyoming, where he spent three years as executive chef.
Accor appointed Claire Haigh director of communications for the Pacific region. For the past five years, Haigh was global communications director for Pernod Ricard’s winemaking division and its portfolio of Champagnes, spirits and wines in Australia and New Zealand.
Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach – A DoubleTree by Hilton property in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, named Toby Joseph executive chef. Joseph spent the past 10 years at The Riverside Hotel on Las Olas, also in Fort Lauderdale, where he developed award-winning restaurants.
Peachtree Hotel Group and Stonehill promoted Brent LeBlanc to executive vice president of business development. LeBlanc joined Peachtree Hotel Group in 2012 and helped the company achieve growth in both its real estate and lending platforms.
HEI Hotels + Resorts promoted Ginger Martin and Pam Kirby. In 2013, Martin became general manager of HEI’s Le Méridien Dallas The Stoneleigh in Dallas, a role she held for seven years before this promotion to regional vice president of operations. Kirby joined HEI in 2015 as vice president of ownership services and analytics. In her new role, she is vice president of hotel transitions and finance.
Henning Matthiesen is managing director of Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden, Germany. He recently spent seven years on the board of the Excelsior Hotel Ernst AG in Cologne, Germany.
Donohoe Hospitality Services named Neeta Mayur corporate director of regional marketing and Seon Heo regional director of sales and marketing. Mayur joined Donohoe Hospitality Services in 2009, most recently serving as the revenue manager for the Holiday Inn Washington, D.C./Capitol Hill. Heo joined the company from PM Hotel Group, where she was regional vice president of sales and marketing overseeing 17 hotels.
Maggie Mojica is director of sales and marketing for Gurney’s Resorts’ properties in Montauk, New York — Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa and Gurney’s Star Island Resort & Marina. Mojica comes to the company from St. Regis New York in New York City where she was director of sales.
Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel named Kellie Newman hotel manager of Denver’s largest hotel. Newman joined the property from W and Le Méridien Hotels in Minneapolis, where she served as complex general manager.
Tom Puntel is director of sales and marketing at Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Puntel had been vice president of sales and marketing at East West Hospitality.
Sean Rigotti joined Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa in Singer Island, Florida, as director of sales. Rigotti joined from sister property Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa in Pompano Beach, Florida, where he was senior sales manager.
Shawn Romeo is director of sales and marketing at AC Hotel Pleasanton in Pleasanton, California. Romeo’s tenure with Hersha Hospitality Management began in 2013 when she worked with key properties within the group’s portfolio, including Hyatt House Pleasant Hill in Pleasant Hill, California, and Sheraton Pleasanton in Pleasanton.
Frederick Sawyers is managing director for Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek and Waldorf Astoria Orlando, both in Orlando, Florida. Sawyers most recently was complex general manager for Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.