Hotel executive moves: Aqua-Aston, Meyer Jabara, Noble

Here is a compilation of the most important executive moves of the past week in the hotel investment world alphabetically (by company):

New managing director for Aqua-Aston. Honolulu-based Aqua-Aston Hospitality has named Andrea Mue as its new managing director. Mue joined Aqua-Aston in 2018 as senior vice president and chief financial executive. She previously worked at Ernst & Young, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and Chartres Lodging Group and Kokua Hospitality.

CapitaLand Ascott Trust board chair retiring. Singapore-based CapitaLand Ascott Trust (CLAS) said Bob Tan will retire as the chairman of the CLAS boards and be replaced by Lui Chong Chee on April 22 as part of the CLAS board renewal process. Tan has been chairman since 2016, while Chee joined the board on February 1.

Four Corners names new CFO. Mill Valley, California-based Four Corners Property Trust (FCPT) has promoted Patrick Wernig from managing director of acquisitions to CFO. Wernig, subject to his appointment by the board, will succeed Gerry Morgan, who will retire on May 3. Wernig has been with FCPT since 2016. He previously worked in J.P. Morgan’s investment banking group.

New managing director for JLL's San Francisco office. JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group has named James Escarzega as the managing director of its San Francisco office. Escarzega has 20 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry and previously worked at a global private equity firm and HFF. 

Meyer Jabara Hotels hires new VP. Danbury, Connecticut-based Meyer Jabara Hotels has hired Chas Henry as senior vice president of business development and acquisitions. Henry is charged with growing the company’s third-party management contracts. Previously, Henry was vice president of business development and acquisitions for GF Hotels & Resorts.

Noble names new executive. Atlanta-based Noble Investment Group has named Angela Johnson as managing principal and head of global client solutions and strategic partnerships, a new position. Johnson joins Noble from Fifth Wall, where she was a partner and head of capital formation and previously worked for Torchlight Investors, KKR, Partners Group, and RLJ Development (now RLJ Lodging Trust).

New CDO for OTH Hotels Resorts. Virginia-based OTH Hotels Resorts (OTH) has named James Hansen its new chief development officer. Hansen has nearly 25 years of executive leadership experience and was most recently executive vice president of business development for Hotel Equities. He also previously worked at Kolter Hospitality and Interstate Hotels & Resorts.

Spark makes numerous executive moves. Cleveland-based Spark GHC has made a number of executive moves, including naming Amit Patel as CEO, Saagar Parikh as president and chief investment officer, Bhavin Patel as chief strategy officer and head of external affairs, and Bhavesh Lad as COO and head of asset management.