Gerry Lopez

Extended Stay America, Inc. and its paired-share REIT, ESH Hospitality, Inc., (NYSE:STAY) (collectively, the “Company”) announced that they have appointed Gerardo (Gerry) Lopez to serve as the next President and Chief Executive Officer of both companies, effective August 24, 2015. Gerry Lopez is chief executive officer and president of AMC Entertainment Inc. (AMC). He has served as CEO and President since March 2009, when he was also elected to the Company's Board of Directors. Lopez is only the fourth CEO in the company's more than 90-year history. Prior to joining AMC, Lopez served as executive vice president of Starbucks Coffee Company and president of its Global Consumer Products, Seattle's Best Coffee and Foodservice division. In that role, Lopez led Starbucks' global growth and expansion its businesses beyond the four walls of their retail stores. As he puts it, his group was responsible for "extending the Starbucks experience by taking care of the customer everywhere and anytime they were not in our stores." Lopez brings to AMC his understanding of brands, execution, guest experiences and strategic partnerships; and how they combine to produce superior results. He sees countless opportunities in the exhibition business, and firmly believes AMC will play a leadership role in the entertainment arena. Lopez's management philosophy is simple: hire good people, agree on a direction, provide the tools, and reward results. His mantra, as he puts it, is to "listen, learn, discuss, decide, execute, measure and ... repeat." Lopez has served in various public company boards, including TXU Corporation (Dallas, TX) and Safeco Insurance (Seattle, WA). He is currently on the boards of National CineMedia (NASDAQ: NCMI); Digital Cinema Implementation Partners (DCIP); Open Road Films (a joint venture with Regal Entertainment); and Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI). On the industry and community fronts, Lopez currently sits on the executive board of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO); the University of Missouri's Trulaske School of Business Strategic Development Board (Columbia, MO); and is a trustee of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP). He has also been a member of the Cranbrook Institute of Science Board of Governors in Bloomfield Hills, MI; and has been recognized by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the Top 100 Hispanic Business Leaders. Lopez was previously part of the entertainment industry, when he served as president at Handleman Entertainment Resources, which provided category management and music distribution services to Wal-Mart, Best Buy and other major retailers in the U.S. and abroad. In his more than 28-year career he also has served in a variety of executive management positions with International Home Foods, Frito-Lay, Pepsi-Cola and the Procter & Gamble Company.