MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the appointment of John Donaldson as Senior Vice President, Business Development & Strategy. Donaldson will lead the company’s business development strategy, which includes developing and managing new, customer-focused enterprise partner relationships.
“John is an accomplished senior business strategist and corporate development leader and will bring to Hilton a wealth of experience across different cultures, businesses and markets,” said Jon Witter, Chief Customer Officer. “His insight will be invaluable as we build out our business development capability and explore the initiatives and new enterprise partnerships that can deliver greater value for our guests.”
Donaldson joins Hilton from Pandora Media, where he most recently served as Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development. In this role, he championed the company’s evolution from a U.S.-focused internet radio service to a global music platform and was responsible for standardizing and improving the effectiveness of business development efforts. Prior to Pandora Media, Donaldson spent eight years at Microsoft Corporation, where he spearheaded business development and was responsible for high-value deals.
“At 100 years young, Hilton continues to pioneer the way for the hospitality industry,” said Donaldson. “I am thrilled to be a part of the company’s next century as we continue to develop and implement enterprise-wide strategies that fuel continued growth and innovation.”
Donaldson holds a bachelor’s degree from Washington and Lee University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law. He begins today, will be based in Hilton’s global headquarters in McLean, Virginia, and reports to Jon Witter, Chief Customer Officer.
About Hilton
Hilton is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 22 world-class brands comprising more than 7,500 properties and nearly 1.2 million rooms, in 126 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed over 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, was named the No. 1 World’s Best Workplace by Great Place to Work and Fortune and has been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for seven consecutive years. Hilton has introduced industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the more than 180 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can't buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit stories.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.