Marriott veterans Liam Brown, Brian King to retire

Marriott International has announced the retirement of two long-time leaders, Liam Brown and Brian King, and the appointment of three seasoned executives to drive the company’s continued expansion.

Brown, group president, U.S. and Canada, and King, president, enterprise transformation & Caribbean and Latin America (CALA), will step down from their roles at the end of March and retire from the company at the end of June after decades with the company.. Effective March 28, Satya Anand, currently president of the company’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, will become group president, U.S., Canada and CALA. Neal Jones, currently COO for Europe and Africa and global leader, Design Hotels, will assume the role of president, EMEA, and Federico “Fede” Greppi, currently COO for CALA, will step into the role of the region’s president.

Jones will join Anand in serving on Marriott’s executive leadership team, and both will report to Anthony Capuano, president/CEO, Marriott International. Greppi will report to Anand.

“Liam and Brian are extraordinary leaders whose impact on Marriott and our people cannot be overstated,” said Capuano. “They have guided our company through pivotal moments with vision, integrity and a deep commitment to our associates, guests and owners. While we will miss Liam and Brian, we are grateful for their decades of service and the lasting legacy they leave behind.”

Brown’s nearly four-decade career with Marriott has been defined by strategic growth and measurable impact. From his start as GM of the Courtyard by Marriott in Syracuse, NY, in 1989 to his current role, he has driven expansion across key segments and strengthened Marriott’s market position. He played a pivotal role in advancing franchising, elevating brand management and scaling select-service operations globally. His leadership in Europe, Middle East & Africa and later in the U.S. & Canada delivered sustained portfolio growth, operational efficiencies and resilience through periods of significant industry disruption, according to the company.

King’s three-decade career at Marriott has been defined by transformative growth and innovation. In his current role, he delivered record-breaking performance across Marriott’s portfolio in the CALA region, which now spans 37 countries and territories, accelerating Marriott’s footprint and strengthening profitability, according to the company. He spearheaded Marriott’s entry into the affordable midscale segment through the acquisition of the City Express brand, positioning the company to capture new customer segments and drive incremental revenue. Under his leadership, Marriott expanded its presence in the all-inclusive category, forging relationships with new owners and portfolios that elevated the company’s luxury and lifestyle offerings. King’s ability to envision and execute complex enterprise-wide strategies while delivering sustained results in CALA has left a lasting impact on Marriott’s global portfolio and competitive position.

New roles for seasoned leaders

Anand, a 37-year Marriott veteran, began his career in 1988 as a night auditor at the Vienna Marriott Hotel. Throughout his tenure, he has held leadership roles spanning operations, finance and design, including cluster GM for the Renaissance Hotels in Vienna, area VP for Western & Central Europe, CFO for Europe and COO for luxury & Southern Europe and global design EMEA.

Since 2020, Anand has served as president of EMEA, driving digital transformation, advancing sustainability initiatives and delivering significant growth—expanding the region’s portfolio to more than 1,300 properties. Under his leadership, the region achieved record expansion, strengthened owner relationships and elevated guest experiences across diverse markets, according to the company.

Jones brings three decades of Marriott experience to his new role, with leadership experience in sales, marketing and operations. As chief sales & marketing officer for EMEA, he drove commercial strategy and brand positioning across the region, strengthening Marriott’s presence in key markets.

In his current role, Jones oversees performance across Europe and Africa and spearheaded the integration of Design Hotels into Marriott’s portfolio, enhancing the company’s luxury and lifestyle offerings. In his new role, Jones will lead Marriott’s operations across nearly 80 countries and territories and more than 1,300 properties representing 30 brands, guiding the company’s continued growth in EMEA.

A trilingual, cross-disciplinary leader with more than 22 years of hospitality experience, including 13 years at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Federico “Fede” Greppi has operational and financial experience, and a proven track record of driving performance across diverse markets.

As COO for CALA, Greppi focused on translating Marriott’s global vision into actionable strategies tailored for local markets. Prior to that, as CFO/head of franchise operations and owner relations, CALA, he helped expand Marriott’s footprint to over 500 properties across 37 markets in the region. A native of Argentina, Greppi’s strong local market knowledge, deep roots in the region and strategic leadership have been instrumental in strengthening Marriott’s position in the market and make him well positioned to lead CALA’s next phase of growth and expansion, according to the company.

“Today’s appointments position Marriott for our next chapter of growth,” said Capuano. “Satya brings a powerful combination of operational depth, financial discipline and design expertise to a unified regional structure, which will sharpen how we execute and elevate outcomes for our associates, guests and owners. Neal has been a driving force behind EMEA’s commercial performance and brand development, and I know he will build on that momentum with a laser focus on innovation and owner relationships. Fede’s deep market, financial and operating expertise in CALA will position the region well as we focus on further accelerating our growth in the southern hemisphere. I’m confident these leaders will advance our strategy and continue to nurture the culture that sets Marriott apart.”

Anand, Jones and Greppi will assume their new roles on March 28. Brown and King will remain with the company in advisory roles through June to ensure a smooth transition.