Next Loews CEO Will Come From Hotel Rival

   (FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 12/3/14) 
   By Craig Karmin 

Loews Hotels & Resorts has named Kirk Kinsell as chief executive, poaching a top executive from the larger InterContinental Hotels Group PLC.

Mr. Kinsell, president of the Americas for InterContinental and a 35-year industry veteran, will replace CEO Paul Whetsell, effective March 2. Mr. Whetsell will become vice chairman, according to Loews.

At InterContinental, Mr. Kinsell, 59 years old, was heavily involved with the development and launch of the boutique Hotel Indigo brand as well as the Even Hotels line, which emphasizes health and fitness. He also was involved in developing Holiday Inn Express, one of InterContinental's most profitable and fastest-growing brands.

Shares of InterContinental fell less than 1% to $40.77 in 4 p.m. New York Stock Exchange composite trading on Tuesday. Shares of Loews Hotels parent company Loews Corp. rose two cents to $41.25.

Mr. Whetsell, 64, started in January 2012. Jonathan Tisch, Loews Hotels chairman, said Mr. Whetsell told him a year ago that he was thinking of stepping aside, and Loews quietly began searching for a successor.

Mr. Tisch said Loews would continue to focus on its core product of luxury hotels, but added that "we are open to many different options." The company has said it also is preparing to launch a luxury lifestyle brand early next year.

Elie Maalouf will take over as head of the Americas at InterContinental. He is currently an adviser with consultants McKinsey & Co.

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