Document
false0001298946 0001298946 2019-08-08 2019-08-08


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO
SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
August 8, 2019 
DiamondRock Hospitality Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
Maryland
 
001-32514
 
20-1180098
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
 
(Commission
File Number)
 
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
2 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1400
BethesdaMD 20814
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code): (240) 744-1150
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
 
Trading Symbol(s)
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
 
DRH
 
New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.      



 





ITEM 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On August 8, 2019, DiamondRock Hospitality Company (the “Company”) announced the appointment of Jeffrey J. Donnelly, age 48, as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective August 19, 2019.
 
Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Donnelly was the Managing Director of Equity Research at Wells Fargo Securities. In his two-decade career there he co-founded Wells Fargo’s Real Estate Research Platform. Prior to Wells Fargo, Mr. Donnelly was Assistant Vice President at AEW Capital Management. In that role he had responsibility for a real estate portfolio of more than 40 properties. Specifically, he oversaw capital allocation, budgeting, capital markets and accounting for the diversified portfolio. Additionally, he led the disposition efforts on more than $1 billion in assets as well as a $1.6 billion property-for-stock transaction.
 
It is expected that Mr. Donnelly will enter into a severance agreement with the Company on terms consistent with those in the severance agreements between the Company and its other executive vice presidents.

ITEM 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

On August 8, 2019, the Company announced that Mr. Donnelly was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. A copy of that press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

The information in this Item 7.01 of this Current Report, including Exhibit 99.1 incorporated herein and attached hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

ITEM 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
The following exhibits are included with this report: 
 
 
 
Exhibit No.
  
Description
 
 
99.1
  
101.SCH
 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104
 
Cover Page Interactive Data File





SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DIAMONDROCK HOSPITALITY COMPANY
 
 
 
 
Date: August 8, 2019
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ Briony R. Quinn
 
 
 
 
 
 
Briony R. Quinn
 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior Vice President and Treasurer







Exhibit

https://cdn.kscope.io/bc0518c8954294fdf8827add61b7cfc6-drhlogopressreleasea20.gif

COMPANY CONTACT    

Mark Brugger
(240) 744-1150

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


DIAMONDROCK HOSPITALITY COMPANY APPOINTS JEFFREY J. DONNELLY AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

BETHESDA, Maryland, August 8, 2019 - DiamondRock Hospitality Company (the "Company") (NYSE: DRH) a lodging-focused real estate investment trust that owns a portfolio of 31 premium hotels in the United States, today announced the appointment of Jeffrey J. Donnelly as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer effective August 19, 2019.

Mark W. Brugger, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Company stated, “With 25 years of institutional real estate experience, Jeff brings a depth of market knowledge and strategic understanding that will allow him to make an immediate impact. I look forward to working closely with Jeff on capital allocation decisions going forward.”
Mr. Donnelly stated, “I am thrilled to be part of DiamondRock. The opportunity was particularly attractive to me because of the management team, the very high-quality portfolio, and the strong balance sheet. I believe my experience and perspective will enable me to contribute to the future success of DiamondRock and maximizing shareholder value.”

Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Donnelly was the Managing Director of Equity Research at Wells Fargo Securities. In his two-decade career there, he co-founded Wells Fargo’s Real Estate Research Platform and was widely recognized for the excellence of his work. Mr. Donnelly was ranked the No. 1 Real Estate Analysts by R/E Portfolio Magazine, six times recognized in the Top 10 Institutional Investor Rankings, and honored as a Wall Street Journal Analyst All Star. Prior to Wells Fargo, Mr. Donnelly was Assistant Vice President at AEW Capital Management. In that role he had responsibility for a real estate portfolio of more than 40 properties. Specifically, he oversaw capital allocation, budgeting, capital markets and accounting for the diversified portfolio. Additionally, he led the disposition efforts on more than $1 billion in assets as well as a $1.6 billion property-for-stock transaction.

Mr. Donnelly is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and holds certificates for the Series 7, 63, 86 & 87. He earned a B.B.A. Finance with a dual minor in Economics & Psychology from The George Washington University in 1992.

About the Company
DiamondRock Hospitality Company is a self-advised real estate investment trust (REIT) that is an owner of a leading portfolio of geographically diversified hotels concentrated in top gateway markets and destination resort locations. The Company owns 31 premium quality hotels with over 10,000 rooms. The Company has strategically positioned its hotels to be operated both under leading global brand families such as Hilton and Marriott as well as unique boutique hotels in the lifestyle segment. For further information on the Company and its portfolio, please visit DiamondRock Hospitality Company’s website at www.drhc.com.