IHG Promotes Execs To Top International Posts

A pair of familiar faces will preside over international operations for InterContinental Hotels Group, the company announced this month.

Current InterContinental executives Peter Gowers and Kirk Kinsell will take over as chief executive for the Asia/Pacific region and president of the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, respectively. Kinsell begins his new responsibilities Sept. 1, and Gowers on Nov. 1.

"I am delighted to be able to make these two key appointments from within the company," IHG CEO Andrew Cosslett said. "Both Peter and Kirk have been hugely influential in the development of IHG, building our brands, developing stronger relationships with our owners and driving up our rate of growth."

Gowers, currently chief marketing officer, was largely responsible for the growth of IHG's rewards program into the industry's largest as well as improving the company's Web sites and reservations system, according to Cosslett. He replaces acting chief executive Tony South, who temporarily filled the position following the departure of Patrick Imbardelli, who resigned last month following discrepancies found in his reported academic qualifications. South will return to his position as senior vice president of development and asset management for Asia/Pacific.

Kinsell, meanwhile, now serves as senior vice president and chief development officer for the Americas region and has been responsible for IHG's rapid pipeline development in the region, according to Cosslett. He replaces retiring executive Richard Hartman, and Kinsell said he is now familiarizing himself with the company's European strategy.

"I've got big shoes to fill, but I'm excited in the way our model has continued to evolve," Kinsell said. "There's been franchising and branding of what typically has been unbranded product and an emerging delivery system, and it's been done with a lot of people pulling in both directions."