AT the start of InterContinental Hotel Group’s 2007 Asia/Pacific Leadership Conference, Patrick Imbardelli cut an impressive figure, alone on the stage at the InterContinental Burswood Resort in Perth, Western Australia. Imbardelli, the InterContinental Hotel Groups’ rising star, had a lot to be proud about.
IHG Asia/Pacific revenue and operating profit from continuing operations increased by 28.3 percent to US$204 million and 33.3 percent to US$52 million respectively during 2006.
He had the respect and full trust of the IHG board and its group chief executive in the UK, Andy Cosslett, who was also in Perth to salute the achievements of IHG Asia/Pacific.
During his presentation, Imbardelli – who resigned last month over discrepancies on his CV – rallied IHG senior management by warning them that “the worst time to step back and admire your work is when you are climbing the ladder”. Imbardelli also cautioned his audience that a strong hotel market was no excuse to cut corners and dilute the guest experience.
“The market is very brisk but are we washing the mud off our turnips?” he asked. Many are asking now why Imbardelli, who joined IHG in 2000 and was appointed managing director, Asia Pacific, in January 2003, kept the mud on his own turnips by falsifying his CV, claiming university degrees he did not possess. Interestingly, the IHG Leadership Conference had the title of Winning Ways – Do the Right Thing, which Imbardelli outlined like this: “We always do what we believe is right and have the courage and conviction to put it into practice, even when it might be easier not to.”
“We are honest and straightforward and see our decisions through.” “We keep our promises and we don’t let people down.” “We seek out the facts and trust our judgement.” “We take decisions even when they’re difficult.” So, in deciding that Imbardelli should resign when he was on the point of being elected to the IHG board of directors on July 1, Cosslett had no room for manoeuvre.
He was bound by the tenets of Winning Ways For 46-year-old Imbardelli, the Winning Ways that he had championed in Perth on May 22 became a way out of the door less than three weeks later. Imbardelli’s 25 years’ experience in the hotel industry and recognition by his peers as Asia/Pacific Hotelier of the Year, counted for little as IHG stuck to its well-publicised principles.
It was a tough call for Cosslett but he said he was left with no option once it was revealed that Imbardelli, an Italian citizen with a young family, had attended degree classes but had never graduated – as he had claimed - from universities in Australia and the United States. Cosslett said, “Patrick was one of my closest allies on the global executive committee. He was a great supporter of our initiatives and an excellent colleague”.
But Cosslett said the response of the board in a publicly listed company is to make sure everyone looks after the best interests of the shareholders, “and make it safe from accusations of corporate governance”. Tony South, senior vice president, development and asset management, Asia Pacific, has become acting chief executive of the region.
New CE named
Peter Gowers, currently IHG chief marketing officer, has been appointed chief executive, Asia Pacific region effective November 1. On the same date, Tony South, acting CE for Asia Pacific, will resume his responsibilities as SVP, Development and Asset Management for the region. IHG’s announcement was made on July 10.
