Third-party hotel management company Aimbridge Hospitality has named Michael J. Deitemeyer as the company’s new CEO. He will succeed cofounder Dave Johnson effective Jan. 1, 2021.
Since October 2019, Deitemeyer has served as the global president of Aimbridge Hospitality, overseeing the merger with Interstate Hotels & Resorts, where he served as CEO.
Johnson, meanwhile, will assume the newly created role of executive chairman where he will focus on transformational growth, including capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and new business opportunities. Since cofounding the company 17 years ago, Johnson has led Aimbridge from its original portfolio of eight properties to a portfolio of more than 1,500 branded and independent properties in 20 countries and more than 60,000 employees.
“With the successful merger of Interstate behind us and Mike’s partnership in running the business over the past year, this is the ideal time to transition the role of CEO,” Johnson said. “I have been so impressed with Mike’s ability to gain the trust and alignment of our leadership team and bring fresh new thinking to the business. The team, our current portfolio and future projects will benefit from Mike’s extensive industry knowledge, proven instincts and a straightforward approach to the fast-evolving global hospitality industry.”
In his new role as president and CEO, Deitemeyer will be responsible for all of the company’s business segments and will report to both Johnson and the board of directors. He brings more than 25 years of hospitality experience to the role, where he will focus on streamlining operations and building new segments of business for the company, which has added 128 properties to its portfolio this year and is on track to add another 120 properties in the next 120 days. Deitemeyer continues to have a seat on the board of directors.
“It’s an honor to step into the role of CEO of this incredible company,” Deitemeyer said. “Aimbridge has distinguished itself among the competition with its unparalleled breadth of resources, talented and committed people, and industry-leading ideas. I look forward to building upon this powerful foundation. I have known Dave for a long time and have been fortunate to witness his vision for the company. I am grateful to have his continued counsel as we write the next chapter for Aimbridge.”
“Mike has demonstrated he has the strategic instincts, operational savvy and the proven ability to deliver results,” said Glenn Murphy, chairman of the Aimbridge board. “That, coupled with his keen appreciation of our commitment to our owners and associates around the world, makes him the ideal CEO for Aimbridge. This textbook transition to our new CEO is the culmination of our succession plan that was endorsed by the Board earlier in the year.
“Mike is fortunate to still have access to one of the most talented and revered leaders in the hospitality industry, Dave Johnson,” Murphy continued. “Ambridge has enjoyed unrivaled success due to Dave’s vision, energy, and growth mindset.”
Deitemeyer was president and CEO of Interstate Hotels & Resorts for nearly three years before Interstate’s merger with Aimbridge in October 2019. He joined Interstate from Omni Hotels & Resorts, where his roles included 13 years as president, helping to grow Omni’s organization through management roles in operations, development, sales and finance.
Deitemeyer holds board memberships with the American Hotel & Lodging Association and its executive committee (2014-present), AHLEF (2018-present), and MINA, representing the company as an at-large board member of Marriott International’s franchise advisory board (2018-present). He was a founding board member and served as chairperson of the Global Hotel Alliance.