NEW YORK — March 3, 2021 — Highgate, the premier global real estate investment and hospitality management company, announces the appointment of Marianne Balfe to Vice President of Sustainability. In this new role, Marianne will be responsible for driving Highgate’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy across the company’s guest experience, construction projects, external reporting, and corporate culture – with the goal of ensuring Highgate remains a leader in sustainable business practices.
The hire reflects Highgate’s continued commitment to driving resiliency and sustainability in global hospitality. Marianne’s strategic vision and capability to achieve and maintain strong ESG performance will not only deliver efficiencies, cost savings and other operational improvements for Highgate, but will also grow the company’s positive social impact. With sustained investments throughout 2021 and beyond, Highgate is investing in human capital and cultivating a best-in-class team.
“We’re using this time to add to our agile team given our strong growth trajectory and because we value doing good. It’s imbedded in Highgate’s DNA as one of our core tenets,” said Chief Operating Officer Steve Barick. “Marianne is an industry leader with the expertise in sustainable business that will be pivotal as we look to write our next chapter.”
Prior to Highgate, Marianne was Director of Energy and Environmental Sustainability for the Americas at Marriott International where she was responsible for the development and implementation of sustainability strategies, establishing strategic partnerships across all sectors, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations, contributing to ESG reporting, and delivering annual carbon, water and waste footprint reductions.
Before joining Marriott, Balfe founded a sustainability strategy consulting firm after completing an MBA while working in the solar industry. Marianne holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies. She has served in advisory roles for the Cleantech Open Competition, Business Renewables Centre Canada, The Water Risk Monetizer and Marriott International’s Women’s Engineering Advisory Council.
For more information on Highgate, visit Highgate.com.
