IHG Taps Hyatt's Abrahamson As Americas President

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts today named Global Hyatt development executive Jim Abrahamson its president of the Americas region, effective Jan. 5, 2009. Abrahamson will report directly to IHG CEO Andrew Cosslett.

Abrahamson's four-year tenure as Global Hyatt's head of development in the Americas was marked by the chain's entry into select-service markets through acquisition and internal development. On Abrahamson's watch, Hyatt acquired AmeriSuites and Summerfield Suites and introduced the limited-service Hyatt Place brand.

"Jim is very highly regarded throughout the hotel industry," Cosslett said in a statement. "He has a proven track record of developing and managing leading brands and an intimate knowledge of working within a franchise organization."

IHG finance director Richard Solomons has served as the chain's interim president of the Americas since the health-related July departure of Stevan Porter, who died in August. Solomons will remain IHG's finance director, officials said.