Vail Resorts has revealed that its CFO is stepping down, while other hospitality-related companies are adding executives.
Barking stepping down at Vail
Michael Barkin, EVP/CFO, Vail Resorts Inc. will be stepping down after nearly a decade in role to take time to pursue personal opportunities.
His resignation will be effective Dec. 31, or such other date as mutually agreed upon based on the timing of appointing a successor and a transition.
“On behalf of our leadership team, I want thank Michael for his many contributions over the past 10 years,” said Kirsten Lynch, CEO, Vail Resorts. “Michael has been instrumental in Vail Resorts’ success and I am particularly grateful for his support and partnership in my first year as CEO as well as for the strong finance team he built which ensures we are well-positioned for the future.”
Rob Katz, executive chairperson, Vail Resorts, added, “Michael leaves behind a legacy of transformation and growth at Vail Resorts. He played a central role in the company’s expansion nationally and globally—through the acquisition and integration of 34 resorts across four countries—and was an integral part of the team as we re-imagined so many parts of our business, including elevating and scaling our financial organization and capital allocation efforts. We are fortunate to have benefited from his incredible expertise and leadership, and from both me on a personal level and everyone at Vail Resorts, we wish him all the best in the next part of his life’s journey.”
Barkin joined Vail Resorts in July 2012 as VP, strategy and development, and was named CFO in March 2013.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of Vail Resorts over the last decade,” said Barkin. “It has been a privilege to work at an organization that prioritizes leadership development above all else and combines the passion we share for our resorts and the guest experience with the focus we bring to building a successful and sustainable business. I am so proud of what our team has accomplished and am confident that this foundation will result in continued success for the company under Kirsten’s outstanding leadership. I look forward to supporting my successor through a smooth transition as we set the company up for a successful year ahead.”
Avion Hospitality appoints two
Avion Hospitality, a third-party hotel management company, has appointed Linh Lai, VP, accounting and Joy Gideon, director of accounting.
In their new roles, Lai and Gideon oversee and implement the company’s accounting, audit, treasury, tax and corporate finance. They also execute the company’s centralized hotel support functions that are inclusive of accounting, payroll, tax, accounts payable and operational compliance.
“We are so fortunate to have Linh and Joy join the Avion team—both have extensive hospitality and ownership communication experience, which is vital to our owners,” said Robert Burg, CEO/founder, Avion Hospitality. “As a company we have made a commitment to our existing and future owners to put support infrastructure in front of growth and with the additions of Linh and Joy leading the accounting team our owners are ensured a positive accounting experience with Avion. In turn this allows our on-site property leadership to focus on operations and results vs administration.”
Lai has 20 years of accounting experience and 13 years of hospitality experience. Prior to joining Avion, she was the VP, accounting at Aimbridge Hospitality. Under her leadership, she directed a team of 40 people and oversaw 200 hotels.
Gideon has 10 years of accounting experience and eight years of hospitality experience. Her accounting expertise spans multiple industries including hospitality and commercial real estate. In her career, she has managed the accounting for large full-service assets and complex limited-service portfolios.
Berger joins Broadstreet
David Berger, formerly COO of Hospitality America, has been appointed as senior managing director of business operations for Broadstreet, a Greenville-based private equity firm.
He is responsible for a range of day-to-day operations including oversight of hospitality properties, enhancement of crypto-based projects and development of land opportunities.
Berger is a veteran of the hospitality and economic development industry. Prior to Broadstreet, he was with Hospitality America, which operates more than 20 hotels around the U.S. He has served as GM for many hotel brands, including Starwood Hotel & Resorts, Marriott and others.