CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels Corporation has appointed Maryam Banikarim as the company’s global chief marketing officer. In this role, Banikarim will be responsible for driving the company’s individual brands and the experiences they offer online and offline while working across the organization to facilitate innovation around the guest experience. Banikarim will assume her new role at Hyatt effective Jan. 26, 2015, reporting to Mark Hoplamazian, president and chief executive officer.
“Maryam is an exceptional leader. She brings to Hyatt a wealth of experience working with brands that are experiential, emotional and brought to life in many ways, including through storytelling, all things we believe are essential to our brands and will help us achieve our goal of becoming the most preferred hotel company,” Hoplamazian said. “Her energy, creativity, and focus on people, along with her passion for innovation and proven track record of results, make Maryam a perfect fit.”
“Hyatt has incredibly powerful global brands. Its passion and commitment to providing authentic, caring experiences for its guests and colleagues, alike, is inspiring,” Banikarim said. “I am excited to lead the marketing team at such a transformative time in the hospitality business and thrilled to be part of the Hyatt family.”
Banikarim joins Hyatt with more than 20 years of marketing expertise across multiple industries. Most recently she was the first-ever chief marketing officer at the Gannett Company, responsible for national sales, company-wide marketing, communications, and research. Prior to Gannett, she was senior vice president at NBC Universal and chief marketing officer for Univision Communications Inc. Before that Banikarim founded a strategy firm, consulting for such clients as Deutsche Bank, Bacardi, and Time-Warner. She also worked at Turner Broadcasting, MacMillan Publishing, and was a lead team member for the launch of CitySearch, an early Internet start-up. Banikarim began her career in account management at Young & Rubicam.
