Bob DeVries brings more than 20 years of general management and strategy experience to Spencer Stuart. He leads the firm’s global Hospitality & Leisure Practice and is a core member of the Board & CEO practice. His work spans public, private and equity-backed firms and focuses on board, CEO and senior management positions around the globe. In addition, Bob leads Spencer Stuart’s Chicago, Atlanta, Miami and Minneapolis/St. Paul offices. He is a multi-year recipient of the firm’s annual Lou Rieger Quality Award.
Bob’s diverse client list includes organizations such as Hilton Worldwide, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Morgan’s Hotel Group, Exclusive Resorts, Kerzner International, Tauck World Discovery, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Cheesecake Factory, T.G.I. Friday’s, Outback Steakhouse, Wendy’s/Arby’s Group and Compass Group. Separately, he serves on the Urban Land Institute’s Hotel Development Council and the Advisory Board for the Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship School at the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University.
Prior to joining Spencer Stuart, Bob was president and chief executive officer of Grand Expeditions, a private equity-backed, luxury tour operator providing best-in-class travel experiences across all seven continents. Before joining Grand Expeditions, Bob was vice president of brand management and special events for The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando Florida. His team developed marketing strategies and plans for Walt Disney World’s leading brands — theme parks, water parks, retail, dining, entertainment, recreation and sports. Bob began his Disney career as director of marketing for the Disney Vacation Club (Disney's vacation ownership product). He also served on Walt Disney World's executive committee. He began his career in brand management with The Procter & Gamble Company, where he led large retail and foodservice businesses in the paper products and commercial services divisions.
Bob graduated from the accelerated professional management program at Albion College with a B.A. in economics and management. He earned his M.B.A. in marketing and finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Bob and his wife, Amy, reside in Boca Raton, Florida with their five children.