Marriott’s Arne Sorenson Loses Battle with Pancreatic Cancer

Marriott International has announced the sudden death of president and CEO Arne M. Sorenson on February 15th. He was 62. News of Sorenson’s death arrives on the heels of an announcement on February 2nd that he would be reducing his schedule to facilitate a more demanding treatment regimen for pancreatic cancer. Sorenson first shared his cancer diagnosis in May 2019. Marriott executives Stephanie Linnartz and Tony Capuano were appointed to assume Sorenson’s leadership duties during his break. The pair will continue in this capacity until the Marriott board appoints a new CEO, which is expected to occur within the next two weeks. “Arne was an exceptional executive—but more than that—he was an exceptional human being,” says J.W. Marriott, Jr., executive chairman and chairman of the board for Marriott. “Arne loved every aspect of this business and relished time spent touring our hotels and meeting associates around the world. He had an uncanny ability to anticipate where the hospitality industry was headed and position Marriott for growth. But the roles he relished the most were as husband, father, brother, and friend. On behalf of the Board and Marriott’s hundreds of thousands of associates around the world, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Arne’s wife and four children. We share your heartbreak, and we will miss Arne deeply.” In 2012, Sorenson was appointed as the third CEO in Marriott history, and he led the company toward substantial growth while at the helm. His tenure included the $13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts.