Marriott has announced the passing of longtime President and CEO Arne Sorenson. 

Sorenson had been diagnosed last year with pancreatic cancer. 

Sorenson was just the third CEO in the history of the company, a role in which he had served since 2012. 

“During his tenure as CEO, Mr. Sorenson was tireless in driving the company’s progress, creating opportunities for associates, growth for owners and franchisees and results for the company’s shareholders,” Marriott International said in a statement. “Known for his leadership on difficult national and global issues, Mr. Sorenson steered Marriott to make significant progress on diversity, equity and inclusion, environmental sustainability and human trafficking awareness.”

For now, longtime Marriott executives Stephanie Linnartz and Tony Capuano are overseeing the company’s day-to-day operations. 

They will continue in this capacity until Marriott names a new CEO, which is expected to be within the next two weeks. 

“Arne was an exceptional executive – but more than that – he was an exceptional human being,” said J.W. Marriott, Jr., Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board. “Arne loved every aspect of this business and relished time spent touring our hotels and meeting associates around the world. He had an uncanny ability to anticipate where the hospitality industry was headed and position Marriott for growth. But the roles he relished the most were as husband, father, brother and friend. On behalf of the Board and Marriott’s hundreds of thousands of associates around the world, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Arne’s wife and four children. We share your heartbreak, and we will miss Arne deeply.”

– CJ