A Personal Health Update

This message was originally sent as an email to Marriott International associates.

Dear Associates, 

I wanted to reach out and give you an update on my health. As you’ll recall in May 2019, I shared with you that I had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The cancer was caught early, and I began working with a great medical team at John Hopkins to tackle this disease through a range of treatments including chemotherapy and surgery.

Like all cancer patients, I learned to be grateful for each day and anxiously awaited each new scan.

This is where I found myself when a routine scan indicated that the cancer I’d been fighting is still present. While not the news anyone wants to hear, my doctors have come up with additional treatment protocols that will be demanding – this health battle needs my full attention.

While I have worked throughout my treatment to date and plan to remain as engaged in the business as my health allows, the right thing to do for me, my family and the company is to temporarily step back from the full-time management of Marriott. Working with Mr. Marriott and our board, I have asked two members of my team to share the responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day operations of Marriott’s business units and corporate functions during this period.

Stephanie Linnartz, Group President, Consumer Operations, Technology and Emerging Businesses, will oversee the company’s International Group, led by Craig Smith, as well as the Legal, Human Resources and Communications & Public Affairs departments, headed by Rena Reiss, David Rodriguez and Tricia Primrose, respectively. Tony Capuano, Group President, Global Development, Design and Operations Services, will oversee the company’s United States and Canada group, led by Liam Brown, and our Finance organization, headed by Leeny Oberg. Stephanie and Tony will continue to oversee their respective disciplines.

I have every confidence in Stephanie and Tony and the entire leadership team to continue to implement our strategy and to not miss a beat running day-to-day operations. Part of what gives me comfort that this interim management structure will work is knowing my leadership team the way I do – they are collaborative, supportive of one another, and unwavering in their dedication to our company.

In the nearly two years since I shared my diagnosis with you, I have been sustained by your well wishes, your care and concern. I asked you at that time to look forward with me. And I’m asking you to do that again. I, along with my family and my medical team, remain optimistic and I look forward to when I can return full-time. 

Until that day, stay focused, stay strong and let’s do great work together.

Be well.

Arne