Hilton Hotels Corp. Chief Executive Stephen F. Bollenbach is stepping down at the end of the year, but will remain as chairman of the Beverly Hills-based hotel chain until at least 2010.

Bollenbach announced his departure on Thursday, less than a year after engineering Hilton’s re-union with U.K.-based Hilton Group PLC, which had acquired Hilton’s overseas operations in 1987. The deal puts Hilton once again back into the international hotel business.

Before joining Hilton, Bollenbach worked for New York real estate mogul Donald Trump, joking that he was “the original apprentice.” He also was an executive at Marriott International Inc. and Walt Disney Co., where he served as chief financial officer.

Hilton said it is searching for a successor.

Shares in Hilton were down 9 cents to $35 in midday trading Friday.