Hilton's Bollenbach Takes Hart

by Linda Humphrey

Moving from Marriott to Disney to Hilton, Matthew Hart, Hilton's newly appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer, will carry on his 12-year partnership with chief executive Stephen Bollenbach.

Hart, 44, joins Hilton Hotels Corp. from the Walt Disney Co., where he served as senior vice president and treasurer while Bollenbach held the chief financial officer slot. At Host Marriott, Hart served as executive vice president of finance, and chief financial officer while Bollenbach was president and chief executive. Bollenbach's February appointment to Hilton's helm (BTN, March 4) marked a new start for Hilton, ending confusion over whether the chain would spin off gaming or be sold.

"Having worked with Matt for more than 12 years, and appreciating his bent toward being the kind of action-oriented CFO we need to achieve our goals, I am delighted that his substantial talents and experience will be put to work for Hilton Hotels," Bollenbach said in a prepared statement. Hart's hiring "is a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to maximize shareholder value, and we look forward to further strengthening our senior management in the months ahead," he said.

Steve Krithis had been filling in as acting chief financial officer for Hilton, as the position had been left vacant for about two years.

Hart, who holds degrees from Vanderbilt and Columbia universities, was a lending officer with Bankers Trust Co. in New York prior to joining Marriott.