Tom O'Toole
Principal
O’Toole Associates, Inc.

Thomas F. O’Toole is principal of O’Toole Associates, Inc. He is engaged as an executive advisor to leading firms in a wide range of industries. Mr. O’Toole has been highlighted as a role model for the CMO position in recent books, is a recognized thought leader on the new responsibilities of the CMO and has been for many years a top-rated keynote speaker at CMO conferences.

Mr. O’Toole served until December, 2008, as both the Chief Marketing Officer and the Chief Information Officer of Global Hyatt Corporation. He is unique in serving in this dual role. He was responsible for all brand strategy, marketing, distribution and information technology for all of Hyatt’s operating companies and brands worldwide. His specific responsibilities included all: marketing communication, loyalty programs, electronic commerce, customer data systems and analytics, marketing research and enterprise information systems.

Mr. O’Toole was responsible for all brand marketing and marketing programs at Hyatt in North America since 1995 and, worldwide, since 2004. He has led and managed all forms of marketing, including: national and international media advertising, database marketing, direct marketing, Internet marketing, promotional programs, trade marketing, public relations and related practices.

At Hyatt, Mr. O’Toole built electronic commerce revenue to just under $1 billion. He grew Hyatt.com and was responsible for Hyatt’s ecommerce strategy since its origins, in addition to leading Hyatt’s relationships with all Internet distributors (e.g., Expedia) and other electronic distribution intermediaries.

Mr. O’Toole was a founding director of Travelweb, LLC (the hotel industry electronic commerce venture) and played a key role in its successful development and sale to Priceline in 2004. He was a director of Pegasus Solutions, Inc. (the world leader in electronic hotel bookings and related functions/systems), from 1998 to 2009.

Prior to serving as CMO and CIO, Mr. O’Toole was senior vice president, strategy and systems for Global Hyatt Corporation. He joined Hyatt as vice president, marketing in 1995. Previously, Mr. O’Toole was vice president, marketing for Renaissance Hotels International (Americas). He began his career doing marketing research methodology and statistical analysis for Wyse Advertising, where he advanced to vice president and account group supervisor.

Mr. O’Toole is at the forefront of the relationship between marketing and information technology. He was featured as a role model for the new CIO position by a leading IT consulting firm.

In 2008, Mr. O’Toole was recognized as the 2008 Conrad N. Hilton Distinguished Chair Lecturer at the University of Houston. In 1998, he was named by Advertising Age to the “Marketing 100” top marketers for his marketing leadership of Hyatt Resorts.

Mr. O’Toole earned his graduate and undergraduate degrees in applied communication theory and methodology from Cleveland State University. He and his family reside in Wilmette, Illinois.