InterContinental Hotels Group has appointed Andrew Cosslett as its new chief executive.
The 49-year-old joins the luxury hotel company from Cadbury Schweppes, where he has been president, Europe, Middle East and Africa for two years.
He will take up his £650,000-a-year position in March next year.
The appointment of an industry outsider to the board of a hospitality group is the third such move in the last two weeks.
On 6 December Hilton announced that it had chosen Ian Carter as its new chief executive. He was formerly president of DIY giant Black & Decker’s Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia operation.
Three days later, Whitbread recruited Christopher Rogers from Woolworths to take up the post of finance director.
An InterContinental spokesman said: “There certainly seems to be a trend to look outside the industry for expertise. As more hotel groups focus on operating rather than owning hotels, the appointment of outsiders with brand development and marketing skills mirrors this reality.”
by Tom Bill
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