Choice Hotels Promotes Kelly Kane to Vice President, Corporate Communications and Jeff Lobb to Vice President & Assistant General Counsel
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Choice Hotels Promotes Kelly Kane to Vice President, Corporate Communications and Jeff Lobb to Vice President & Assistant General Counsel
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Category: Worldwide - Careers
- Appointments
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2011-03-31
Maryland-based lodging franchisor Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) announced the appointments of Kelly Kane to the position of vice president, corporate communications, and Jeff Lobb to the position of vice president and assistant general counsel. Ms. Kane will continue to report to Anne Madison, senior vice president of corporate communications. Mr. Lobb will continue to report to Ronald D. Parisotto, senior vice president, general counsel, corporate secretary and chief compliance officer.
In her role, Ms. Kane oversees the company's associate and franchisee communications functions, responsible for the development and execution of strategies and messaging to support the company's overall business objectives to these key audiences through the management of print, online, electronic, multimedia and social media vehicles. She also leads the organization's corporate meetings and events group.
"Kelly has truly elevated the corporate communications functions of our organization and has consistently demonstrated her expertise of communications strategies," said Madison. "She is a valued asset to our company and I'm sure she will continue to provide a high level of leadership in her new role."
As vice president and assistant general counsel for the company. Mr. Lobb now oversees the legal function of all of the company's transactional activity, which includes mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, investments, real estate and financing. In his expanded new role, Mr. Lobb will continue working closely with and providing direct support for the company's Finance, Corporate Real Estate, International, Franchise Development, and Corporate Strategy teams; he will work to develop the legal infrastructure and support needed as the organization continues to grow its international presence and seeks other growth opportunities.
"Jeff is recognized for his focus on collaboration and customer service, and in the time that we have worked together, I have been impressed with his keen understanding of our business objectives and his ability to identify long-term solutions that best support and protect the interests of Choice Hotels," said Parisotto.
Ms. Kane joined Choice Hotels in 2003 as the director of marketing for the Procurement Services team and was promoted to senior director in 2005. In 2006, Ms. Kane took on a new role within the company -- joining the corporate communications department and taking on responsibility for leading franchisee, brand and associate communications efforts. In this position, she began providing communications, advice and support to a number of departments, including the brand teams, marketing, procurement services, franchise services and human resources. In 2009, Ms. Kane expanded her role further by taking on responsibility for vendor related marketing, supporting the procurement services team's sales efforts. That same year she was appointed to lead the company's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs and named executive director of the Choice Hotels International Foundation.
Prior to joining Choice, Ms. Kane served as a senior marketing manager at XO Communications, where she was responsible for brand management, general advertising, direct response marketing, marketing communications, and web marketing initiatives. Earlier in her career she held similar positions with Concert Communications and Marriott International. Ms. Kane holds a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Maryland at College Park and studied at the University of London in London, England.
Mr. Lobb joined the legal department at Choice Hotels in May 2006 as senior counsel, and since that time has provided legal counsel and support on real estate, corporate and SEC matters. Recently taking higher levels of leadership responsibility in a number of areas, Mr. Lobb also provides support of the company's international team and oversight of the commercial contracts function as well as a variety of complex legal activities related to site acquisition, land development initiatives, and mezzanine loan financing programs.
Prior to joining Choice, Mr. Lobb was associated with several major law firms in the Washington D.C. area. Mr. Lobb holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and a law degree from William & Mary School of Law.
About Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises more than 6,000 hotels, representing more than 495,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 30 other countries and territories. As of December 31, 2010, more than 500 hotels were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States, representing more than 40,000 rooms, and more than 100 hotels, representing approximately 9,000 rooms, are under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in 18 other countries and territories. The company's Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brands serve guests worldwide. In addition, via its Ascend Collection membership program, travelers in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean have upscale lodging options at historic, boutique and unique hotels.
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