BETHESDA, Md. – August 1, 2016 – Robert L. Johnson, Executive Chairman of RLJ Lodging Trust (the “Company”) (NYSE:RLJ), today announced that the Board of Trustees (“the Board”) has appointed Ross H. Bierkan as President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company and Leslie D. Hale as Chief Operating Officer (“COO”) of the Company. In addition, Mr. Bierkan has been elected to the Company’s Board of Trustees.
Mr. Bierkan was initially appointed as interim President and Chief Executive Officer in May 2016 following the departure of Thomas J. Baltimore, Jr. In response to Mr. Bierkan’s appointment, Robert L. Johnson, Executive Chairman of the Company said, “I have known Ross for over 17 years. He was a principal participant with Tom and me in the founding of RLJ Development, LLC and he continued to play a strategic role in our movement towards the creation of RLJ Lodging Trust. Ross is exceptionally prepared as an executive based on his deep knowledge of the hotel industry and the confidence that the Board and management team have in his leadership as CEO of RLJ Lodging Trust. I am convinced that Ross will continue to grow the Company as Tom did with an intense focus on maximizing shareholder value.”
Mr. Bierkan has served as the Company’s Chief Investment Officer since the Company’s formation in 2011 and will continue to serve in that role for the time being. Mr. Bierkan served as a Principal and Executive Vice President of the Company’s predecessor, RLJ Development, LLC, from 2000 until the Company’s formation. Previously, Mr. Bierkan was an original member and senior executive of The Plasencia Group, a hospitality transaction and consulting group. Prior to joining The Plasencia Group, Mr. Bierkan worked with Grubb and Ellis Real Estate, a commercial real estate brokerage firm, and held various operational and sales management positions for Guest Quarters Hotels (now the Doubletree Guest Suites).
Ms. Hale will serve in the dual role of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) of the Company. She will continue to oversee all financial matters, investor relations, and remain significantly involved in the daily operations of the Company. In her dual role, Ms. Hale’s responsibilities will be expanded to include the management of the Company’s operating platform, primarily comprising the Asset Management and Design and Construction functions.
“Leslie, like Ross, has been an integral part of the RLJ success story for over 11 years,” commented Mr. Johnson. “She demonstrated in her role as CFO that she commands the knowledge and expertise needed to develop, execute, and communicate the RLJ Lodging Trust financial strategy. As a result of her efforts, we have created one of the best balance sheets in the lodging REIT sector, while also enhancing the Company’s commitment to transparency and integrity. In her expanded role as COO, I am certain that she will continue to be an invaluable asset to Ross and the entire Company.”
Ms. Hale joined RLJ Development, LLC the Company’s predecessor in 2005 as its Director of Real Estate and Finance and was promoted to Vice President in 2006. In 2007, she was promoted to Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President and, in 2013, she was promoted to Executive Vice President. Prior to Ms. Hale’s tenure at RLJ, she held several positions within General Electric Capital Corporation (“GE”), including Vice President in the Mergers and Acquisitions Group of GE Commercial Finance and Associate Director in the GE Real Estate – Strategic Capital Group. Before GE, Ms. Hale was an investment banker at Goldman, Sachs & Co.
