Hilton Steps Up Luxury Branding; Names New VP of Marketing

Looks like Hilton is taking some steps to rebrand its luxury division: We hear that Hilton Worldwide Luxury Brands named Stuart Foster as Vice President of Marketing yesterday. Former Vice President of the Southeast Region for Moet-Hennessy USA, a division of LVMH, Foster will lead all luxury marketing initiatives and oversee the  development of global positioning for Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts. Foster will report directly to John Vanderslice, Global Head of Luxury & Lifestyle Brands, of Hilton Worldwide and work from the Hilton Worldwide Headquarters in McLean, Va.

While based in Paris as Global Brand Director for LVMH's namesake champagne brand, he developed and implemented a highly successful brand renewal strategy. While working in Tokyo as a Senior Marketing Manager, he accelerated the brand's growth in traditional channels while also developing its visibility and presence in hotels, restaurants and wine shops. In his most recent role, Foster was charged with the development of existing and new brands' distribution, sales and profit, account planning and pricing across the region.

Fluent in English and French and proficient in Japanese, Foster received his Master of Business Administration from New York University's Stern School of Business and his Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University.