Liam Brown Elected Secretary of the International Franchise Association
Liam Brown, President of North America Select Service & Extended Stay Lodging and Owner & Franchise Services at Marriott International, has been elected Secretary of the International Franchise Association, placing him in the leadership chairs of the Association.
“Liam Brown brings years of proven franchise and leadership experience to IFA and its members,” said IFA Chairman Steve Joyce, president and CEO of Choice Hotels International. “His business achievements and his dedication to the franchise industry will provide a substantial benefit to the IFA leadership team as the industry continues to combat the multitude of orchestrated attacks on the franchise business model.”
The IFA is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.
Brown began his career with Marriott International in 1989. Most recently he served as executive vice president of development for North America. Prior to that, he was senior vice president for the Fairfield Inn brand from 2003 to 2007, and was vice president of franchising for Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites. From 1989 until 1999, Brown served in multiple general manager and regional positions across Marriott’s Courtyard, Residence Inn and Full Service portfolio.
“I am honored to step into this leadership role and I look forward to working with IFA members to protect and enhance the franchise industry,” Brown said.
Brown was elected to his IFA leadership position by the IFA Board of Directors, along with the full slate of 2015 officers, including: Melanie Bergeron, CFE, chairwoman of the Board of Two Men and a Truck, who will serve as IFA Chairman; Aziz Hashim, a multi-unit, multi-brand franchisee and president & CEO of National Restaurant Development, who becomes Vice Chair; and Shelly Sun, CEO & co-founder of BrightStar Franchising, LLC, will become IFA Treasurer. The 2015 slate of officers will assume their new positions Feb. 18, 2015, at the conclusion of IFA’s 55th Annual Convention in Las Vegas.
Educated primarily in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland, Brown holds a business degree from Trinity College. His primary emphases of study have been hospitality and business management. In 2005, he completed his MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Management at the University of Maryland. Brown and his wife, Lillian, reside in Bethesda, Md. with their two children.
About the International Franchise Association
The International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating over 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising. Through its media awareness campaign highlighting the theme, Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time, IFA promotes the economic impact of the more than 825,000 franchise establishments, which support nearly 18 million jobs and $2.1 trillion of economic output for the U.S. economy. IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.