Aimbridge Names Johnson Executive Chairman, Deitemeyer CEO

DALLAS—Aimbridge Hospitality has named Dave Johnson to the newly created role of executive chairman and appointed Michael J. Deitemeyer to CEO, succeeding cofounder Johnson, effective Jan. 1.

Johnson will focus on transformational growth, including capital markets, M&A and new business opportunities. Since cofounding the company 17 years ago, he has led Aimbridge to become a global powerhouse from its original portfolio of eight properties into the world’s dominant hotel operator with a premium portfolio of more than 1,500 branded and independent properties in 20 countries and more than 60,000 employees, according to the company.

“In my new role, I look forward to focusing 100% of my efforts on the growth of our great company,” Johnson told Hotel Business.

Since October 2019, Deitemeyer has served as the global president of Aimbridge Hospitality, overseeing the successful merger with Interstate Hotels & Resorts, where he served as CEO. In his new role as president/CEO, he will be responsible for all of the company’s business segments and will report to both Johnson and the board of directors.

Deitmeyer 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 robust portfolio this year and is on track to add another 120 properties in the next 120 days. He continues to have a seat on the board of directors.

He was president/CEO of Interstate Hotels & Resorts for nearly three years prior to Interstate’s merger with Aimbridge in October 2019. He joined Interstate after a successful tenure with Omni Hotels & Resorts including 13 years as president, helping to grow Omni’s organization through management roles in operations, development, sales and finance..