(London, 25. Mai 2012) Wachwechsel bei der InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG): Chairman David Webster tritt zum Jahresende ab. Als Nachfolger wurde Patrick Cescau benannt. Webster war seit April 2003 Mitglied des Vorstandes und seit Januar 2004 Chairman der Hotelgruppe, die zu den Top 3 der Welt zählt.
Patrick Cescau kommt vom Markenkonzern Unilever. Von 2005 bis 2008 war er CEO und seitdem in verschieden Topfunktionen u.a. in der Sparte Food. Damit führt ein Branchenfremder die Hotelgruppe unter der obersten Führung von Richard Solomons.
Cescau gilt als gut vernetzt. Er ist derzeit als Director für Pearson PLC, Tesco PLC and International Airlines Group tätig.
Mehr zu Patrick Cescau (Quelle IHG):
Patrick Cescau joined the board of INSEAD in June 2009.
He was appointed a Non-Executive Director of International Airlines Group in 2011. He has been a Non-Executive Director of Tesco PLC since February 2009, and was appointed the Company’s Senior Independent Director in July 2010. He is also a Non-Executive Director of Pearson PLC (since 2002) and in 2010 was appointed the Senior Independent Director.
From 2005 to 2008, Patrick was Group Chief Executive of Unilever, having previously been Chairman Unilever PLC, Vice-Chairman Unilever NV and Foods Director, following a progressive career with the Company, which began in France in 1973. Prior to being appointed to the Board of Unilever in 1999 as Finance Director, he was Chairman of a number of the Company’s major operating companies and divisions, including in the USA, Indonesia and Portugal.
He is a trustee of the Leverhulme Trust and Chairman of the St Jude Children Charity.
Patrick Cescau was appointed a Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur in 2005.
David Webster
David Webster was appointed to the Board of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC in April 2003 and became the Non-Executive Chairman in January 2004. He is also Chairman of the Company’s Nomination Committee.
Chairman of Makinson Cowell since October 2004, David has also been Director of the National Life Story Collection since June 2005, is a knight of the Order of St John, joined the Board of the Temple Bar Investment Trust in January 2009 and is Non-Executive Director of Amadeus IT Holding SA effective from May 2010.
Prior to this, David was a co-founder, together with the late James Gulliver and Sir Alistair Grant, of Safeway PLC (formerly Argyll Group PLC) and was appointed Chairman in 1997. He had previously served as the Deputy Chairman and Finance Director. David retired as Chairman in March 2004 following Safeway’s merger with Wm Morrison. David was also formerly a Non-Executive Director of Reed Elsevier PLC, and served in the Royal Naval Reserve for eight years from 1962 to 1970, latterly as a Lieutenant. Married with three sons, David’s interests are sailing, skiing and military history.