Marriott CFO Carl Berquist To Retire, Ritz-Carlton's Leeny Oberg Named Successor

(RTTNews) - Marriott International, Inc. (MAR) said that Carl Berquist, its executive vice president and chief financial officer for the past seven years, will retire as CFO on December 31, 2015. He will remain with the company as a special adviser through March 2016.

Leeny Kelly Oberg, a 16-year Marriott veteran, and currently CFO for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marriott, will become Marriott's CFO on January 1, 2016, succeeding Berquist.

Marriott noted that Berquist's leadership was instrumental in the company's significant global growth, culminating with the company's announced plans in November to acquire Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (HOT) in a merger transaction.

During Berquist's tenure as CFO, Marriott acquired Gaylord Hotels, Protea Hotels and Delta Hotels and Resorts. He also led the spin-off of Marriott's timeshare business in 2011, as well as a transaction with Accenture Hospitality Services involving back-office functions in 2013.

Leeny Oberg, aged 55, will begin her new role as Marriott CFO on January 1, 2016. She assumed her current position at Ritz-Carlton in 2013, where she contributed significantly to the brand's performance, growth and organizational effectiveness.

Previously, Oberg served in a range of financial leadership positions with Marriott. From 2008 to 2013, she was the company's senior vice president, corporate and development finance.