Colony Hotels & Resorts named John J....

Colony Hotels & Resorts named John J. Russell president and chief executive to succeed John Fitts, who resigned last month to start his own business.

Colony, based in Sherman Oaks, operates 37 resort properties with more than 7,000 rooms in Hawaii, California and six other states. The company is a unit of Carlson Cos., a diversified Minneapolis concern that is privately held.

Russell, 41, previously held marketing and management posts at Sheraton Corp. and Days Inns.