InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced Keith Barr is stepping down as CEO next month, and also leaving the company’s board.
According to a news release, Barr intends to return with his family to the United States. His final day as CEO will be June 30, after which he will remain to advise the company until the end of 2023.
He will be succeeded by Elie Maalouf, a member of IHG’s board and executive committee, who has led IHG’s Americas business as regional CEO for the past eight years. Maalouf will take on his new position on July 1 and will be based in the U.K.
Barr has been a part of IHG for more than 30 years and was appointed to the board and as CEO in July 2017.
Under his leadership, the company has surpassed the 6,000-hotel mark, added seven brands in six years, significantly invested in digital capabilities and loyalty offers, developed a 10-year responsible business strategy, and progressed in key areas of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), according to the media release.
“I feel incredibly privileged to have spent three decades as part of IHG, working alongside the many talented colleagues that make it such a special company, and in partnership with our hotel owners who share our passion for hospitality. I have been lucky enough to experience this in multiple countries over the years and to have spent the last six as CEO has been an honor,” Barr states. “After a long time living abroad, now is the right time for me and my family to return to the United States. I am proud of the strong position that IHG is in today, thanks to the investments we have made to transform every aspect of our business, deliver for our guests and owners, and grow and operate our brands in the right way around the world.
Maalouf joined IHG as Americas CEO in February 2015. Under his leadership, the region’s estate has grown from approximately 3,700 hotels to more than 4,350.
According to the release, he has spent several decades in the global hospitality sector and has experience spanning hotel development, branding, finance, real estate, and operations management, as well as food and beverage expertise. He has lived and worked internationally including in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the United States, and speaks four languages.
