Starwood rehires aviation CEO

Steven Hankin, ex-Sentient Jet chief executive and a former Starwood Hotels exec, has joined the Greenwich, Connecticut-based firm as managing director to oversee Starwood’s corporate portfolio.

Starwood Capital has hired former aviation chief executive officer Steven Hankin as managing director to oversee the firm’s portfolio of corporate investments.

The Greenwich, Connecticut-based firm said in a statement Hankin had been appointed managing director, portfolio operations. He had spent the past six years as chief executive of Sentient Jet, which he joined from Starwood Hotels and Resorts.

At Starwood Hotels, Hankin had worked as chief marketing officer and head of strategic planning, as well as becoming president of Starwood Technology and Revenue Systems, which dealt with the hotel company’s loyalty programme, internet and distribution strategy.

Hankin , to be based in Connecticut, will be part of the management team that reports directly to founder Barry Sternlicht. “I am personally very excited to welcome Steve Hankin back to work with me,” said Sternlicht. As managing director, portfolio operations, Hankin will oversee the firm’s corporate investments and help shape “strategic direction and execut[ion of] those plans”.