Marriott Vacations Worldwide (MVW) has confirmed the appointment of Matthew Avril and James Dausch as independent directors to its board, effective 4 March.
This announcement coincides with the retirement of Melquiades Martinez and Raymond Gellein from the board, effective immediately before the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting, anticipated in May.
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The newly announced board appointments are part of a board refreshment process managed by the board’s nominating and corporate governance committee.
Avril brings more than three decades of executive experience to the table, primarily within the hospitality and vacation ownership sectors.
He most recently held the position of CEO at Diamond Resorts International and was previously the CEO-elect for Vistana Signature Experiences after retiring as Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Hotel Group president.
Avril has worked as president and managing director of operations at Starwood and Vistana.
James Dausch has more than 25 years of senior executive experience, particularly in developing and implementing growth strategies for notable brands. His previous role was as executive vice president and chief customer officer at Under Armour.
He is currently serving as the global chief digital and technology officer at Pizza Hut, part of Yum! Brands.
Dausch’s career at Marriott International spanned more than two decades, where he undertook various senior leadership roles, including chief digital and transformation officer, with responsibilities across corporate finance, sales and marketing, franchising, and digital and technology.
MVW board of directors chair William Shaw said: “Matt and Jim bring decades of collective experience with leading hospitality and consumer brands and deep industry, operational, technological and digital expertise. They are both terrific additions with skills that will help drive our strategy forward.
“Looking ahead, I am confident that the board is well equipped with the right mix of skills, expertise and tenure needed to maximise long-term shareholder value including advancing our strategy to leverage technology to modernise our business.”
