TORONTO - June 9, 2011 - Four Seasons Hotels
and Resorts
announced today that, after an inspiring and dynamic career, Jim
FitzGibbon,
President Worldwide Hotel Operations, has decided to retire. Mr.
FitzGibbon will continue to be involved with the Company in an advisory
role as
Four Seasons transitions to a new organizational structure. He
will
officially relinquish these transitional responsibilities at the end of
2012.
“We will all miss Jim’s leadership, business acumen, warmth and
humour.
All of us at Four Seasons have benefited enormously from the lasting
contributions Jim has made to our organization and culture,” said Katie
Taylor,
CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “In his distinguished 35
year
career, Jim has mentored and stewarded many of the Company’s current
and future
leaders, leaving behind a solid foundation for succession, and a
lasting legacy
of leadership and friendship. I am personally grateful for the
tremendous
support he has given me over our many years working together.”
An Illustrious Career
FitzGibbon’s career at Four Seasons has spanned 10 posts in
almost as many
countries, beginning with an entry level position in the Front Office
at the
Inn on the Park Toronto and culminating in his appointment to
President,
Worldwide Hotel Operations in 2006. Since that time, FitzGibbon
has
helped Four Seasons navigate successfully through the recent global
recession,
and also gathered an enormous wealth of ties and relationships around
the
world, both within Four Seasons and with guests and customers.
His
empathy and engaging personality have ensured him a wide range of
friends and
supporters, and his steady, unfailing sense of fairness and inclusion
has
earned him the respect of all who know him well.
“I count myself exceedingly fortunate to have been able to spend my
career with
Four Seasons,” said Jim FitzGibbon. “The opportunity to grow and
learn
with the Company, and to be able to lead a team of the most talented
and passionate
people in the business, has been tremendously rewarding. While I
will
certainly miss the day to day interactions with our guests and
employees, I
know that I have formed friendships that will last a
lifetime.”
A New Generation of Leadership
As
Four Seasons transitions to a new generation
of leadership, it is also transitioning to a new and elevated hotel
operational
structure. For some time now, the Company has been adding
resources to
each region, in recognition of the need to have on the ground expertise
in
areas such as finance, marketing communications and F&B.
Four Seasons is now adding two regional Presidents of Hotel Operations
for Asia
Pacific and the Americas to its executive team. Antoine
Corinthios
already fulfills that role for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
These appointments are consistent with Four Seasons long term focus on
promotion from within and strengthen the Company’s ability to deliver
best in
class results and sustainable growth in the years ahead.
- Chris
Hart is appointed President,
Hotel Operations - Asia Pacific. In this role, Hart will
continue to provide strategic leadership for hotel operations
throughout the
Asia Pacific region, which is the fastest growing part of the
Company. All Regional Vice Presidents in Asia Pacific will
continue
to report to Hart, and he will report directly to Katie Taylor.
Born in
Canada and educated in England, Hart joined Four Seasons in Edmonton in
1984,
progressing to increasingly senior roles within the Company. In
January,
2008 he was promoted to Senior Vice President, Operations, Asia
Pacific.
Hart will continue to be based in Singapore.
- Craig
Reid is appointed President,
Hotel Operations - Americas. In this new role, Reid will
assume
responsibility for hotel operations in Canada, the United States and
Central
and South America. All Americas Regional Vice Presidents will
report to
Reid, and he will report directly to Katie Taylor. Born in Lima,
Peru,
Reid spent his formative years in Spain, France, Switzerland, and
eventually
England. He started with Four Seasons in Washington DC in
1983.
Reid was promoted to Senior Vice President, Operations, Americas in
2007,
overseeing half of the Company’s Americas portfolio. Reid will
continue
to be based out of Dallas, Texas.
In
addition to these important appointments, Four Seasons is also creating
a
new executive position to oversee global product and innovation.
- Chris
Hunsberger is appointed Executive
Vice President, Product and Innovation. In this newly
created
role, Chris will be responsible for overseeing the Company's product
evolution
and innovation efforts. Guy Rigby, Vice President, Food
&
Beverage, Americas and Scott Taber, Vice President Rooms, Americas,
will report
directly to Chris, and Chris will report directly to Katie
Taylor.
Hunsberger began his career with Four Seasons in 1981 at The Pierre,
New York
(then a Four Seasons hotel). In January of 2008, Chris was
promoted to
Senior Vice President, Operations, Americas. He will continue to
be based
out of Washington, D.C.
These
three operational appointments are effective August 1, 2011.
Having strong leadership for Four Seasons legal, compliance and risk
management
activities is also becoming increasingly important as the Company opens
properties
in more new and diverse markets. Effective immediately:
- Sarah
Cohen is appointed Executive
Vice President and General Counsel. This appointment
recognizes
the influential role that Sarah has fulfilled as General Counsel since
2009,
both as legal advisor and risk management strategist as the Company
continues
to increase the number of jurisdictions in which we operate.
Sarah’s
significant thought leadership and legal expertise in leading an
increasingly
complex portfolio of businesses will continue to help shape and guide
our
growth strategy and long term development plans. Sarah joined
Four
Seasons in 1998 as Corporate Counsel, progressing to increasingly
senior roles
within the Company. In 2006 she was promoted to Senior Vice
President and
was subsequently promoted to General Counsel in August 2009. In
this
role, Sarah will continue to report to Katie Taylor. Sarah is based out
of the
Toronto Corporate office.
“The structure that we have announced today has been designed to
reflect the
future needs of the Company as we grow and evolve,” Taylor said.
“It will
enable us to provide strategic and senior leadership as close to our
regional
operating businesses as possible, responding to the diverse business
challenges
of each region in a way that has the most impact. The structure
also
allows us to continue to grow future leaders from within the
Company. On
behalf of everyone at Four Seasons, I congratulate our new leaders on
these
significant roles.”
About Four Seasons Hotels and
Resorts
Four Seasons is dedicated to perfecting the travel experience through
continual
innovation and the highest standards of hospitality. From elegant
surroundings of the finest quality, to caring, highly personalised
24-hour
service, Four Seasons embodies a true home away from home for those who
know
and appreciate the best. The deeply instilled Four Seasons
culture is
personified in its employees – people who share a single focus and are
inspired
to offer great service. Founded in 1960, Four Seasons has
followed a
targeted course of expansion, opening hotels and residences in major
city
centres and desirable resort destinations around the world. Currently
with 84
properties in 34 countries, and more than 50 projects under
development, Four
Seasons continues to lead the hospitality industry with innovative
enhancements, making business travel easier and leisure travel more
rewarding. For more information on Four Seasons, visit press.fourseasons.com
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