Bob DeVries is Spencer Stuart’s chief commercial and capabilities officer and leads the firm’s global advisory services businesses. He is a core member of the Board and CEO and Private Equity practices. Bob previously served in other firm leadership roles, including global head of Spencer Stuart’s industry and functional practices and co-head of North America. Bob also founded and led Spencer Stuart’s global Hospitality & Leisure Practice. He is a multi-year recipient of the firm’s Lou Rieger Quality Award.
Deep experience in hospitality, leisure and restaurants
- Bob’s diverse client list includes global lodging, restaurant, cruise line, theme park, gaming and other leisure-based hospitality organizations. Bob serves on the Advisory Board for the Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship at the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University. He previously served on the Urban Land Institute’s Hotel Development Council.
- Bob brings more than 20 years of general management and strategy experience to his client work. Prior to joining the firm, Bob was president and chief executive officer of Grand Expeditions, a private equity-backed, global luxury and adventure tour operator (now part of the Travelopia portfolio).
- Earlier, he was vice president of brand management and special events and served on the executive committee 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 also worked for The Disney Development Company (part of Disney Imagineering) where he served as Director of Marketing for the Disney Vacation Club.
- Bob began his career in brand management with The Procter & Gamble Company, where he led well-known brands in the paper products and commercial services divisions.
Bob graduated from the 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’s Booth School of Business.