BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 5, 2017 — DiamondRock Hospitality Company (the "Company") (NYSE: DRH) announced today that Thomas Healy, former Co-Head of Asset Management at Strategic Hotels and Resorts, will join the Company as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Asset Management, effective January 16, 2017. In this role, Mr. Healy will report directly to Mark Brugger, DiamondRock's President and Chief Executive Officer, and will lead the Company's asset management efforts.
"We could not be more excited to welcome Tom to the DiamondRock team," said Mr. Brugger. "Tom has over 25 years of hotel and asset management experience and a proven track record of success. Over his career, Tom has taken a broad strategic approach to the design, implementation and execution of a range of initiatives at the portfolio and property level that have driven margin expansion and delivered value to shareholders. We are confident that Tom will help us execute on our strategy to drive superior shareholder returns across the lodging cycle and build on the significant progress we have made in our operations in recent years."
"I am delighted to join the talented DiamondRock management team," said Mr. Healy. "DiamondRock has a high quality portfolio of hotels, a very strong balance sheet and a number of exciting opportunities lie ahead in the near future. I look forward to working collaboratively with DiamondRock's leadership team and will focus the asset management group on maximizing operational performance. My priority will be to ensure that everyone is focused on one simple goal: ensuring that everything we do enhances asset value for DiamondRock shareholders."
Previously, Mr. Healy has worked at Strategic Hotels and Resorts since 2006 and most recently served as EVP/Co-Head of Asset Management, a role in which he had oversight responsibility for the asset management function for both owned assets and third-party contracts and worked with both internal and external partners to drive asset value. He worked and developed relationships with multiple Brands, Developers and Ownership Groups. In this position, he had shared responsibility for the strategic and tactical execution for over 20 hotels generating $1.3 billion in revenue and $360 million EBITDA in 2015 across North America. Prior to Strategic Hotels and Resorts, Mr. Healy served in various corporate and property operational roles for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. He worked in both hotel operations as General Manager in multiple assets as well as working at the corporate office for Starwood in Development. He has received recognition for his efforts and was awarded "Turnaround Hotel of the Year" for Westin Hotels & Resorts and Regional New Build Award for his opening of the Sheraton Overland Park and Conference Center. Mr. Healy is an alumnus of Johnson & Wales University where he earned a BS Hospitality Management and he earned a Masters with Distinction (MSc) in Hospitality and Tourism Leadership from the University of Strathclyde Business School, Cornell University and Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne.
