Rudnitsky Leaves Wyndham Hotel CEO Post

Wyndham Hotel Group is searching for a new chief executive following the departure of president and CEO Steven Rudnitsky, which was announced late Tuesday.

Rudnitsky, who has led the company since 2002, is leaving to pursue other interests, according to the company. A Wyndham spokesman said the company does not have a set timeline to find the new CEO, but in the interim, Wyndham Worldwide chairman Stephen Holmes will handle the associated duties. Wyndham Worldwide, in addition to the hotels unit, also encompasses Wyndham's vacation ownership and vacation rentals businesses.

Among his accomplishments at Wyndham, Rudnitsky oversaw growth with the acquisitions of the Baymont brand in 2006, the flagship brand in 2005 and Ramada International in 2004. He also launched Wyndham's TripRewards program and established a management subsidiary, changing the company's prior direction that focused solely on franchised properties.

"Steve's leadership transformed our lodging business from a pure domestic franchise company into a major global franchise and management company through the acquisition of world-class brands, acceleration of international hotel development and the strengthening of our core domestic operations," Holmes said in a statement. "As we search for his successor, we will be looking for a new leader who can build on this solid and stable business platform."