Carl Wilson is a turnaround CIO and business leader with a career that spans more than four decades and multiple industry segments. Carl launched his career as a computer operator and is now recognized as a world-class CIO who led the technology function for national and global companies. Currently, Carl develops emerging talent as a CIO coach and mentor at CW & Associates in addition to actively serving on several corporate and advisory boards. His goal is to bring his expertise in executive and technology leadership to individuals and businesses alike—helping others to realize success.
As Executive Vice President and CIO of Marriott International, Inc. from 1997 to his retirement on March 31, 2011, Carl used leading-edge technology to advance the global presence of this $13+ billion company with 3,600 hotels across 70+ countries. A thought leader and visionary, he established the IT organization as a business partner while aligning the technology function with aggressive profit goals. He redefined traditional ideas to produce positive change in every functional area of Marriott’s global operation. Through a keen ability to coach and develop individuals and groups, Carl’s management philosophy created cohesive, loyal teams that worked toward challenging and exciting corporate objectives. Viewing the world as a community, he built top-producing executive teams while establishing consensus with cross-cultural staff operating globally.
From 1992 to 1997, Carl served as CIO and Vice President of Information Resources for Georgia-Pacific Corporation, where he standardized disparate systems during a period of multiple acquisitions. Carl’s guidance led to the design and implementation of a unified, enterprise-wide structure. His fiscally-responsible executive and technological foresight led to cost reductions, process improvements, and increased production—driving exponential growth for this global forest products company.
In 1984, Carl joined The Pillsbury Company, subsequently acquired by Grand Metropolitan, PLC in 1990, and is now known as Diageo. Following the corporate transition, Carl’s position was expanded to include IT accountabilities for food and international retailing sectors worldwide. During his tenure, he served as Senior Vice President of Management Information Services with CIO responsibilities.
Awarded for his contribution to business and the global IT community, Carl has received multiple recognitions, including his induction into the CIO Hall of Fame in 2007, as well as “CIO 100” from CIO for 17 years and “InformationWeek 500” for 13 consecutive years. His IT management led Marriott International to win “Best Places to Work in IT” (2003 to 2011), in addition to “Top 12 Green IT Companies” (2008 to 2011) and “Best Practices in Business Intelligence” (2008) by Computerworld.
Carl is a graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Executive Program (M.E.P.), and also earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Indiana University. He sits on the Board of Directors for Rural Sourcing Inc. and Hotel Internet Services LLC. He is also an Advisory Board Member for Decooda International Inc., Splitty Travel LLC, Arke Systems LLC, PurpleCloud Technologies LLC, and Forte Ventures. In the past, Carl served multiple years on the AT&T Executive Customer Advisory Council, IBM Board of Advisors, Oracle CIO Advisory Board, and Hewlett-Packard CIO Advisory Board.