Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that it has named Vincent Gillet the Global Brand Leader for W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts. With more than 20 years of luxury lifestyle brand management and global expertise with companies such as LVMH, Chanel and Pernod Ricard, Gillet has spent the past three years as Chief Marketing Officer for Six Senses Resorts & Spas, based in Bangkok, Thailand. Gillet, 40, will report to Phil McAveety, Starwood’s Chief Brand Officer. He replaces Eva Ziegler, who has chosen to leave Starwood and return to Europe after a remarkable six years with the company.

“We believe that Vincent’s experience working with global luxury lifestyle brands in key markets will be especially valuable for W Hotels and Le Méridien,” said Phil McAveety, Chief Brand Officer of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “Vincent’s extensive brand knowledge will no doubt be crucial as we further develop and grow these two great brands.”

As Global Brand Leader for W Hotels and Le Méridien, Gillet will oversee the strategic direction of the brands and their combined portfolio of more than 140 hotels around the world. In his new role, he will lead the development and execution of the W and Le Méridien brands’ global marketing strategy, guest experience, standards and communications programs and help drive hotel development opportunities.

While at Six Senses, Gillet led the company’s marketing team and was the architect of its brand and sales strategy, resulting in market share gains in emerging markets such as China, Russia and India. He also spearheaded efforts to align and simplify the Six Senses brand portfolio and developed the strategy to launch a central reservations system as well as an incentive affinity program. He also had dotted line responsibility for the company’s sales, residential and retail teams.

Gillet is an M.A graduate of ISC Business School in Paris and will reside with his family in New York.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts, www.starwoodhotels.com