Margaritis to lead corporate affairs at hospitality major
Almost three years after leaving FedEx, where he had been serving as senior vice president of global communications and IR for 15 years, Bill Margaritis has taken on a new role at Hilton Worldwide.
Bill Margaritis, Hilton Worldwide's new executive vice president of corporate affairs
Margaritis will now serve as executive vice president of corporate affairs, based in the NYSE-listed hotelier’s headquarters in Mclean, Virginia, and will be responsible for internal and external communications, government relations and corporate responsibility.
He is also joining the firm’s executive committee, according to a press release. ‘After an extensive and thoughtful search, Bill stood out as a highly respected and seasoned leader with a proven track record and the right combination of experience,’ comments Christopher Nassetta, CEO of Hilton Worldwide.
Prior to joining FedEx, Margaritis served as the London-based vice president of PR and marketing communications for the EMEA and southwest Asia regions at civil engineering firm Bechtel. The Michigan State University graduate has also served as manager for state government affairs at Occidental Petroleum and as a special assistant for intergovernmental affairs of the US secretary of commerce during the Reagan administration.
FedEx’s IR team has won multiple IR Magazine Awards over the past 10 years, consistently ranking in the US Top 100. The communications function at the courier giant has been merged with the marketing department since Margaritis’ departure, with Patrick Fitzgerald now serving as senior vice president of integrated marketing and communications and IR Magazine’s 2011 lifetime award winner Mickey Foster heading the IR team.