ED FULLER of Marriott International, who led operations for the company’s dramatic growth outside of North America, will retire at the end of March next year.
As president and managing director of international lodging, Fuller led Marriott’s growth outside the continental US from 16 hotels to more than 550 today in more than 70 countries. Approximately 175 additional hotels are currently under development outside the US.
Having recently published a book about managing growth and change, entitled ‘You Can’t Lead with Your Feet on the Desk’, Fuller played an integral role in Marriott’s international growth, and most recently has been focused on guiding the company’s operations in the Middle East and Africa in the midst of major regional turbulence.
Arne Sorenson, Marriott’s president and chief operating officer, said: “We will miss Ed’s insights and tremendous grasp of the industry as we continue the global growth for which he was a powerful advocate.”
Joining the company in 1972, Fuller was appointed chief sales and marketing officer for Marriott Hotels in 1977. He also served as general manager of key hotels in the US and as regional vice president in the US. He assumed leadership of Marriott’s international lodging operations in 1991 as senior vice president and managing director, was promoted to executive vice president, and was named president and managing director in 1997.
Fuller plans to serve as an adjunct professor at the Paul Merage Graduate School of Business at the University of California Irvine and as visiting professor at Boston University. He will also continue his work with business and charity boards.