Norwalk - Connecticut,
07
November
2013
|
22:30
Europe/Amsterdam

Darren Huston Named as President and CEO of the Priceline Group

NORWALK, Conn., Nov. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Priceline Group (NASDAQ: PCLN) today announced the promotion of Darren Huston, 47, to President and Chief Executive Officer. The promotion will split the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman and Jeffery H. Boyd, who has been President and Chief Executive Officer of The Priceline Group since 2002, will remain as Chairman of The Priceline Group’s Board of Directors. Mr. Huston will join The Priceline Group’s Board of Directors. Mr. Huston’s promotion and appointment to the Board of Directors will be effective January 1, 2014.

Mr. Huston is Chief Executive Officer of Booking.com B.V. (Netherlands), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Priceline Group and the number one online hotel reservation service in the world, a position he will continue to hold. Since January 2013, Mr. Huston has also been responsible for overseeing certain aspects of the Group's international business, including inter-brand relations, distribution, and geographic expansion. Mr. Huston has been a member of the company's Group Management Board since joining in September 2011. Mr. Huston came to the Group from Microsoft Corporation, where he served as Corporate Vice President, Consumer & Online from 2008 and President & CEO of Microsoft Japan from 2005. Prior to joining Microsoft in 2003, Mr. Huston was Senior Vice President at Starbucks Corporation, responsible for acquisitions and new product development. Mr. Huston holds a Masters in Economics from the University of British Columbia and a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard University.

“Darren has done a great job leading Booking.com, the Group’s largest business, delivering impressive growth and share gains,” said Mr. Boyd. “Darren is the right choice to lead the Group and I look forward to working with him closely as Chairman of the Board.”

“We look forward to working closely with Jeff as he continues as Chairman of The Priceline Group’s Board of Directors. Jeff has done an outstanding job leading the Priceline Group over the past eleven years and we are pleased to announce Darren’s appointment as part of our long-term succession planning,” said James M. Guyette, Lead Independent Director of The Priceline Group’s Board of Directors.

About Booking.com

Booking.com is the world leader in booking hotel and other accommodations online. It guarantees the best prices for any type of property – from small independents to five-star luxury. Guests can access the Booking.com website anytime, anywhere from their desktops, mobile phones and tablet devices, and they don’t pay booking fees – ever. The Booking.com website is available in 42 languages, offers more than 525,000 hotels and accommodations in 205 countries, features 33+ million reviews written by guests after their stay, and attracts online visitors from both leisure and business markets around the globe. With over 17 years of experience and a team of over 8,000 dedicated employees in 135+ offices worldwide, Booking.com operates its own in-house customer service team, which is available 24/7 to assist guests in their native languages and ensure an exceptional customer experience.

Established in 1996, Booking.com B.V. owns and operates Booking.com™, and is part of The Priceline Group (NASDAQ: PCLN). Follow us on TwitterGoogle+ and Pinterest, like us on Facebook, or learn more at http://www.booking.com.