Starwood Names Ted Jacobs VP Brand Design
Former Principal and Regional Design Leader at Gensler to Oversee Design Studio for Starwood's W, Le
WHITE PLAINS, NY, September 29, 2009 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announces the appointment of Ted Jacobs as Vice President, Brand Design - a move that is illustrative of Starwood's commitment to design, innovation and brand building.
In his new role, Jacobs will head a team in charge of setting the creative vision for Starwood's luxury and design-driven brands, including W Hotels, Le M'eridien, St. Regis and The Luxury Collection. Specifically, Jacobs will oversee the design studio that directs the interior creative concepts and executes all style guidelines for the four brands across Starwood's leading global portfolio. He reports to Mike Tiedy, Senior Vice President Brand Design & Innovation.
Jacobs brings to Starwood more than 20 years of design, brand-building and business expertise. Most recently he was a Principal and Design Director at Gensler, a global architecture, design and planning firm with 32 offices and almost 2,500 professionals in Asia, UK, and the Americas.
At Gensler, Jacobs focused on the development of business strategy, brand positioning, interior architecture, Web design and graphic communications campaigns for world renowned brands like Apple, Bank of America, Coke, Nike and Toyota. In his role, Jacobs led global interdisciplinary design teams made up of brand strategists, writers, architects, master planners, interior, product and graphic designers.
'Ted's experience driving the creative expressions of so many high-octane, global brands is a tremendous asset to Starwood,' said Mike Tiedy, Senior Vice President, Brand Design and Innovation, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. 'He will be instrumental in providing creative vision and effective leadership to our design-led brands, as we continue our strategic global expansion and build on our reputation as the world's most innovative hospitality company.'
Jacobs earned his Bachelor of Science in Design degree from San Jose State University, where he also spent two years studying aeronautical engineering. He will be based in Starwood's headquarters in White Plains, NY until the company's new Manhattan-based luxury and design led brands headquarters opens this fall.
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