InterContinental Hotels Group EMEA president Kirk Kinsell is taking over the hotel giant’s Americas region following the resignation of current president and executive director Jim Abrahamson.
Abrahamson is leaving to take up the role of chief executive of an unnamed independent US lodging company. Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson, currently EMEA chief financial officer and head of development for Europe, will take over from Kinsell on an interim basis pending the appointment of a long term successor.
Richard Solomons, incoming chief executive and currently chief financial officer and head of commercial development at IHG, said: “We thank Jim for his substantial contribution since joining IHG and wish him every success with his future career.
“It is testament to our strong management capability and succession planning that we are able to appoint a highly respected executive to succeed him.
“Having held a number of senior leadership roles in the Americas region before taking up his current position in EMEA, Kirk knows the region, the team, the owner community and the business inside out.
“He has done an outstanding job leading our EMEA region and I look forward to him continuing this success in the Americas. In Paul we have an experienced executive who will take over the reins on an interim basis. He knows the business extremely well and will ensure continuity as we continue to build momentum across the EMEA region.”
Kinsell said: “Having spent five years heading the Americas development team before taking up my current role and over seven years leading the Holiday Inn franchise business in the US, I am looking forward to working with the team, taking the region to the next stage.”