Cescau to replace Webster as IHG chairman

InterContinental Hotels Group has confirmed that its chairman, David Webster, will retire on December 31st 2012. Webster has been chairman of the Group since January 2004 and a member of the board since April 2003. Patrick Cescau will become chairman at the start of 2013. Patrick was group chief executive of Unilever from 2005 to 2008 and previously held other senior positions with the company, including Finance director and chief executive of the foods division. He will join the Board of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC as chairman on January 1st 2013. Webster said: “My time with IHG has truly been a career highlight for me and I leave with a feeling of achievement for all that has been done since de-merger in 2003. “I am proud of the total shareholder return delivered over this period and I leave confident that a strong business with a sustainable growth strategy is in place. “An excellent executive management team is in place under Richard Solomons’ leadership and I know they will drive continued success in the future.” Patrick Cescau joined the board of INSEAD in June 2009. He was appointed a non-executive director of International Airlines Group in 2011. Cescau has been a non-executive director of Tesco since February 2009, and was appointed the company’s senior independent director in July 2010. From 2005 to 2008, Patrick was group chief executive of Unilever, having previously been chairman Unilever, vice-chairman Unilever NV and foods director, following a progressive career with the company, which began in France in 1973. Prior to being appointed to the board of Unilever in 1999 as finance director, he was chairman of a number of the company’s major operating companies and divisions, including in the USA, Indonesia and Portugal.