Marriott International President Stephanie Linnartz, a 25-year veteran of the world's largest hotel company, has announced plans to step down from her role effective Feb. 24, 2023, one day after the two-year anniversary of her appointment. She will become president and CEO of Under Armour.
In a statement, Marriott CEO Anthony Capuano expressed "mixed emotions" about the departure. "On the one hand, I am excited for this next chapter in Stephanie's career. On the other, I am saddened by the departure of such an incredible executive. Beyond the collaborative relationship that Stephanie and I enjoy in our roles, we are good friends, having rooted for each other for more than two decades as we grew in our careers at Marriott and in our lives outside the company. I admire so much about Stephanie—she has this great combination of grit, grace, and humanity—qualities that make her an exceptional leader. To say she will be missed is an understatement—but she will always be part of our Marriott family."
As president of Marriott since early 2021 following the death of then-President and CEO Arne Sorenson, Linnartz has led all aspects of the company's global consumer strategy, including brand, marketing, sales, revenue management, customer engagement, digital, information technology, emerging businesses and loyalty. She also oversaw Marriott's global development organization, which is responsible for the strategic growth of the company's 30 lodging brands, as well as the global design and operations services functions. In addition, Linnartz has spearheaded the company's progress on issues including the intersection of technology and hospitality, the continued growth of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty platform and environmental sustainability.
Linnartz, who began her Marriott career in 1997, has worked in a number of capacities over the ensuing 25 years, from finance and business development to revenue management and sales and marketing. She was "pivotal" in Marriott's acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, including overseeing the integration of various corporate functions and business-critical systems. In 2019, under her leadership, the company combined the Marriott and Starwood loyalty programs to create the Marriott Bonvoy platform, which currently has more than 173 million global members.
Linnartz serves on the board of directors of The Home Depot. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the College of the Holy Cross, where she is a member of the board of trustees, and she earned her Master of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary.