By Nathan Greenhalgh, courtesy of www.hotelsmag.com
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts announced on Tuesday that Kathleen Taylor will be leaving her role as CEO, effective immediately.
After nearly 25 years with the company, Taylor has no future role planned with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Toronto. When asked by HOTELS, Four Seasons declined to comment further on why Taylor is leaving the company.
The privately held Four Seasons, with the backing of its long-term shareholders Kingdom Holding Co., Cascade Investment and Triples Holdings, has initiated a search for Taylor’s successor and retained Ferguson Partners to assist in the process. In the interim, Four Seasons’ nine-member executive leadership team will manage the company with oversight from the company’s board.
“Our long-term commitment to Four Seasons has not changed,” said His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Hotels International. “We are confident that we can quickly identify a successor to Katie who shares the Four Seasons vision and values and that the Company’s strong Executive Leadership Team, which has the full support of the shareholders, will provide the leadership and continuity necessary to guide us through a seamless transition. We see more opportunity today than ever before.”
Upon her departure from Four Seasons, Taylor said, “Throughout my almost quarter century with Four Seasons the one constant has been the power of the employees — they have always been my inspiration. I am also immensely proud of the members of my Executive Leadership Team and going forward, it is they, along with the nearly 40,000 employees that will fulfill the vision that we have put in place together, driving the future success of the company.”
