Sean Tresvant
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL INC /MD/About Sean C. Tresvant
Sean C. Tresvant (age 55) is Chief Executive Officer of Taco Bell Corp. and was elected to Marriott International’s Board effective February 12, 2025; the Board concluded in February 2025 that he is independent of the Company and management . He joined the Board following a third‑party search process as part of an expansion to 13 directors; he is not yet assigned to any Board committees . Education: MBA (Seattle University); BA and MA in Communications (Washington State University) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taco Bell Corp. | Chief Executive Officer | 2024 – present | Leads growth strategy, franchise operations, brand transformation |
| Taco Bell Corp. | Global Chief Brand & Strategy Officer | 2023 – 2024 | Brand and enterprise strategy leadership |
| Taco Bell Corp. | Global Chief Brand Officer | 2022 – 2023 | Global brand stewardship |
| NIKE, Inc. (Jordan Brand) | Chief Marketing Officer | 2020 – 2021 | Consumer journey, collaborations, sponsorships, omni‑channel design |
| NIKE, Inc. | Senior marketing roles (increasing responsibility) | 2007 – 2020 | Strategy, brand, and marketplace roles |
| Time Inc. – Sports Illustrated | Executive Brand Director | n/a | Brand leadership |
| PepsiCo, Inc. | Senior Brand Manager | n/a | Brand management |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taco Bell Foundation | Vice Chairman | n/a | Governance and philanthropy role |
| Black Executive CMO Alliance (BECA) | Founding Member | n/a | Leadership community for Black marketing executives |
| Other Public Company Boards (current) | None | — | No current public company directorships |
| Other Public Company Boards (past 5 yrs) | None | — | None disclosed |
Board Governance
- Appointment and independence: Elected by the Board effective February 12, 2025; Board determined he is independent under Nasdaq and Company standards .
- Committees: None assigned as of the 2025 proxy; committee placement pending .
- Attendance: The Board met four times in fiscal 2024; no current director or director nominee attended fewer than 75% of Board/committee meetings; all 12 nominees in 2024 attended the annual meeting (Tresvant joined in 2025) .
- Board refreshment and process: Added following a third‑party search; Board expanded to 13 directors to enhance skills (consumer brand, marketing, franchise operations) .
- Structure: Separate Chair and CEO; Lead Independent Director (Frederick A. Henderson) provides independent leadership and committee oversight .
Fixed Compensation (Director Program)
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Board Retainer (cash) | $100,000 | Paid quarterly; may elect deferral to stock units or EDC |
| Lead Independent Director Fee | $60,000 | Additional cash retainer |
| Audit Committee Chair Fee | $35,000 | Additional cash retainer |
| Other Committee Chair Fee | $25,000 | Additional cash retainer |
| Audit Committee Member Retainer | $20,000 | Additional cash retainer |
- Deferral alternatives: Directors may elect to defer cash retainers into stock units under stock plans or receive SARs of equivalent grant-date value; SARs carry a 10‑year term, fully vest, and become exercisable after one year or earlier upon death/disability .
Performance Compensation (Director Equity Program)
| Equity Type | Target Value | Vesting/Distribution | Performance Metrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non‑Employee Director Deferred Share Award | $200,000 | 2024 grants covered 837 shares on May 13, 2024 at $238.96/share; vest pro‑rata daily over the term until next annual meeting; distributed post‑service (lump sum or installments per prior election); no dividend equivalents before distribution | None – time‑based vesting only |
Note: As disclosed in the 8‑K, Tresvant will receive compensation as a non‑employee director under Marriott’s director compensation program; his first grant would follow the annual meeting cycle consistent with program practices .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None |
| Public company boards (past 5 years) | None |
| Interlocks | Board determined independence; no disclosed interlocking relationships affecting independence |
| Related‑party transactions | Company disclosed no transactions >$120,000 in which Tresvant had a direct or indirect material interest; none proposed (Item 404(a)) |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Consumer, brand, and franchise expertise: Deep experience leading global brand management and franchise operations relevant to Marriott’s multi‑brand, asset‑light model .
- Technology and innovation: Background in innovation, omni‑channel design, and digital engagement from Nike (Jordan Brand) and Taco Bell .
- Leadership and transformation: Senior executive roles driving growth and brand transformation in large, complex consumer businesses .
- Education: MBA (Seattle University); BA/MA in Communications (Washington State University) .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | Percent of Class | As‑of Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sean C. Tresvant | — | * | March 1, 2025 |
- Director ownership guideline: Non‑employee directors must own stock or vested stock units equal to 3× combined annual cash and stock retainers (roughly 9× the annual cash retainer) within five years; must retain 50% of net after‑tax shares acquired until meeting guidelines .
- Anti‑hedging/pledging: Directors are prohibited from hedging; independent directors may not pledge Company equity as collateral; no pledge approvals requested in 2024 .
Governance Assessment
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Strengths for Board effectiveness: Brings scarce consumer brand, loyalty, and franchise‑system experience aligned with Marriott’s priorities and asset‑light model; adds diversity of perspective and current operating CEO experience in a scaled, global consumer brand .
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Independence and conflicts: Affirmatively determined independent; Company disclosed no related‑party transactions involving Tresvant; independence mitigates conflict risk despite executive role at Taco Bell (Yum! subsidiary) .
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Compensation and alignment: Director pay skews to equity via annual Deferred Share Awards, enhancing alignment; ownership guidelines + anti‑hedge/pledge policies further reinforce long‑term alignment .
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Integration/engagement signals: Added via third‑party search; Board expanded to integrate new skills; initial period without committee assignments is typical for newly appointed directors and should normalize with 2025–2026 committee refresh .
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RED FLAGS: None disclosed. Potential monitoring items: (i) time commitments as an active CEO—Marriott’s governance limits outside boards and the Board monitors time/attendance; 2024 attendance across the Board and nominees met thresholds . (ii) Watch for future committee assignments to assess influence on audit, compensation, technology, or governance oversight .