Apple Hospitality names new chief financial officer

A local publicly-traded hospitality company has named its next chief financial officer.

Rachael Rothman will become executive vice president (EVP) and CFO of Richmond-based Apple Hospitality REIT Inc. on July 1. She succeeds Bryan Peery, who will continue as an EVP with Apple Hospitality and will take on the position of the REIT’s chief accounting officer until he retires in the first quarter of 2020.

The company announced Peery and Chief Operating Officer Kristian Gathright’s plans to retire earlier this year. The company's spokeswoman, Kelly Clarke, says Gathright's responsibiliites will be absorbed into existing positions once she retires next year. 

Apple Hospitality owns 234 hotels in 34 states, including 12 properties in Virginia. The company’s portfolio includes Marriott and Hilton-branded hotels and one Hyatt-branded property.

Rothman has more than 20 years of experience in the industry. She most recently served as senior vice president, investor relations and strategy, for Fairfax, Va.-based Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V.

From 2010 until 2018, Rothman was senior analyst for Susquehanna International Group (SIG) LLP, for which she led a team responsible for in-depth analysis of public hotel, casino, cruise line, real estate investment trust and restaurant companies. Prior to joining SIG, she held several positions within Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc., covering various public lodging, restaurant and gaming companies.

Rothman earned a bachelor’s degree from Bates College, as well as master’s degrees from the University of Virginia and Cornell University. She is a CFA Charterholder.