Dive Brief:
- Davidson Hospitality Group appointed several new executives, including Harris White as CFO, the Atlanta-based hospitality management firm announced Tuesday in a release obtained by Hotel Dive.
- White joins Davidson from Virgin Hotels Collection, where he was also CFO. Prior to Virgin, he was CFO at Sage Hospitality. Industry professionals Nick Gregory, Robert Morse and Kyle McCoy are also joining the company.
- White’s appointment is one of several announced Tuesday designed to “propel” Davidson “as we enter this next phase of considered growth,” CEO and President Thom Geshay said in a statement.
Dive Insight:
Geshay said the appointments contribute to Davidson’s “strongest team in the company’s 50-year history,” adding that the “best-in-class leadership will continue fueling success for our greater team members, owners and investors.”
As CFO, White will be tasked with optimizing value creation and ensuring long-term growth, according to Davidson.
While at Virgin, the 25-year industry veteran led financial strategy for the brand’s 19 hotels and resorts as it expanded its market presence globally. At Sage, White led finance and accounting for nearly $1 billion in annual system revenue, according to the release.
Davidson also named Nick Gregory senior vice president of strategic operations. Gregory joins Davidson from IHG Hotels & Resorts, where he began as a hotel doorman at a Kimpton property. His leadership positions at IHG Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton’s owner, include senior vice president of hotel operations, and most recently vice president of brand experience and delivery for luxury and lifestyle properties in the Americas region.
At Davidson, Gregory will develop and evolve operations strategies with an eye to increased profitability and guest satisfaction.
Davidson tapped Robert Morse for its vice president of revenue management role, which tasks him with developing and executing strategies to maximize revenue. Morse joins Davidson from Marriott International, where he most recently served as regional vice president of revenue management in Canada.
Kyle McCoy joins the firm as vice president of learning and organizational development after years of experience leading global talent programs for companies including Genuine Parts Company, ThyssenKrupp Elevator and Mercedes-Benz USA. At Davidson, McCoy will be tasked with fostering strong teams.
Michele Smith and Jason Rabidoux were also promoted from within the organization. Smith will hold a newly created chief accounting officer role after 11 years with Davidson, and Rabidoux will serve as chief investment officer after more than a decade with Davidson’s acquisition and business development team.
Davidson’s management portfolio currently comprises more than 85 hotels and resorts; 240 bars, restaurants and lounges; and more than 2 million square feet of meeting space in the U.S. The firm operates hotels under Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt Hotels, Margaritaville and Nobu brands.
Davidson ranked highest in overall guest satisfaction in J.D. Power’s 2024 North America Third-Party Hotel Management Guest Satisfaction Benchmark.
