Morgans Hotel Group has announced that Jason T. Kalisman has resigned as interim CEO, effective immediately, though he will remain a member of the board.
“After careful consideration and discussions with the board, I have decided it is in the best interests of the company to resign from my position as interim CEO to attend to personal obligations,” says Kalisman. “I am incredibly proud of what we achieved during my time as CEO at Morgans and did not want my obligations to inhibit the strategic review process or slow the strong momentum our team has worked so hard to build over the past two years. With the annual meeting and first quarter earnings behind us and other key developments underway, I am certain that now is the right time to make this transition in order for them to complete the process and determine the best path forward for the company.”
As Morgans continues its search for a permanent CEO, company CFO Richard Szymanski will serve as interim CEO and will assume the duties of the principal executive officer for securities law reporting purposes.
Veteran real estate investor and Morgans board member Howard M. Lorber has been named company chairman.
“On behalf of the entire board, I want to thank Jason for his past contributions and for his continuation as a director of the company,” says Lorber. “Going forward, we will continue to build on our operational momentum and complete the strategic alternatives process in a timely manner.”
Szymanski joined Morgans in 2005 after serving as senior vice president and CFO of Prime Hospitality from 2003 to 2004 and vice president of finance from 1998 to 2003. During that time, he was responsible for overseeing the company’s accounting department, budget and planning, internal audits, and cash management.
He earned his bachelor of science degree in accounting from Rutgers University in 1979.
