Carlson Elects Trudy Rautio President and CEO

trudy rautioTrudy Rautio has been elected president and chief executive officer for Carlson, the global hospitality and travel company. She replaces Hubert Joly, who has resigned. Rautio is only the fifth chief executive to be named at Carlson in its 74-year history.

Rautio has been a senior executive with Carlson for 15 years and, for the past eight years, has served as executive vice president and chief financial and administrative officer of Carlson. She has been responsible for directing all financial and information technology operations of the company. She serves on the boards of Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) and The Rezidor Hotel Group - Carlson’s majority-owned hotel group in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

In announcing the appointment, Carlson’s chair of the board, Marilyn Carlson Nelson, said, “The Carlson board of directors is extremely pleased to continue the strong momentum that we have been building through Ambition 2015. Carlson is ahead of plan and Trudy is the ideal leader to continue our robust strategies for continued success and profitability.”

She replaces Hubert Joly, who has been president and chief executive officer of Carlson since 2008. Joly resigned from the position to pursue other career opportunities.

Nelson expressed the Board’s appreciation for Joly’s leadership over the past eight years - four as Carlson’s chief executive officer and, prior to taking the chief executive role, four years as president and chief executive officer of Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) from 2004 to 2008.

Nelson noted, “With Hubert Joly’s leadership through some very difficult financial times, Carlson is on strong financial footing. Hubert was hired as Carlson’s first non-family CEO and we are grateful for his contributions to our company.”

Rautio is Carlson’s second female president and chief executive officer. The first was Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Carlson’s current board chair and co-owner.

Prior to joining Carlson, Rautio was senior vice president and chief financial officer of Jostens, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis.  She also served as vice president of finance for Minneapolis-based Pillsbury Co.

A graduate of Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minn., Rautio holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of St. Thomas, Twin Cities.  In addition, she is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant.

Carlson operates in more than 150 countries and territories and its brands employ more than 170,000 people.

Visit www.carlson.com