Marriott announces leadership changes as CFO retires

Marriott International announced several significant leadership changes on Tuesday (July 15).

After 26 years with the company, Leeny Oberg, the company's chief financial officer and executive vice president, development, has decided to retire effective March 31, 2026, according to a press release.

Two long-time Marriott veterans have been named her successors. Next year, Jen Mason will become the company's chief financial officer and Shawn Hill will take on the role of chief development officer.

Oberg has served as Marriott's CFO since 2016. In February 2023, Oberg was tapped to lead the strategic growth of the company's global lodging portfolio.

"Leeny's focus on value creation is evident in everything she does. Whether it was navigating the pandemic successfully, enhancing the company's cost competitiveness or having a disciplined and strategic approach to investing in growth, her impact on Marriott is long lasting," said Anthony Capuano, president and CEO of Marriott International, in a statement.

"Leeny's strength lies in the depth of her expertise, but also in her warmth, relatability and dedication to support those who work with her. As a result, she has built a deep bench of talented leaders who are ready to take the next steps on the exceptional path she has helped carve for Marriott. I am grateful to Leeny for helping to position the company so beautifully for this transition and for her many years of leadership and friendship."

Oberg said it has “been an honour to be part of the Marriott team, and a privilege to serve as the company's CFO for the past decade and the leader of the Development organization over the past few years.”

"Reflecting on my tenure, I am most proud of my teams and what we have accomplished together. While it's never easy to leave a company and job you love, I have the utmost confidence in the leaders who will assume these roles and am very optimistic about the strategic path Marriott is on. I look forward to working collaboratively with them to ensure a smooth transition for the company,” Oberg stated.

Prior to being named Marriott's CFO in 2016, Oberg, 65, served as the CFO for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, where she contributed significantly to the brand's performance, growth, and organizational effectiveness.

Earlier in her career at the company, Oberg held a range of finance leadership positions, including senior vice president, corporate and development finance and senior vice president, International Project Finance and Asset Management for Europe and the Middle East and Africa.

Oberg first joined Marriott as part of its Investor Relations group in 1999.

Jen Mason, a 33-year Marriott veteran, will assume the role of executive vice president and CFO once Oberg steps down from that role.

Mason, 55, joined Marriott in 1992 and currently serves as global officer, treasurer and risk management.

Since joining Marriott in 1992, Mason has held several leadership roles, including CFO for the company's largest segment, the U.S. & Canada division, senior vice president of IT Business Partnership & Planning, as well as senior vice president, sales and marketing planning support.

Shawn Hill, 54, will becoming executive vice president and chief development officer on January 1, 2026, initially reporting to Oberg, and after Oberg steps down from her role, to Capuano.

Hill, who has been with the company for nearly 28 years, is currently chief development officer for Marriott's Asia Pacific Excluding China (APEC) region.

Oberg will step down from her role following Marriott's filing of its 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K. She will remain with the company until March 31, 2026, to help ensure a smooth transition.

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.