Sonesta International Hotels Corporation announced the appointment of Keith Pierce and Jeff Leer as co-CEOs, effective April 1. The leadership change follows the retirement of John Murray, who will step down on March 31.

Pierce has been with Sonesta since 2021, serving as executive vice president and president of franchise and development. In this role, according to the announcement, he has been involved in expanding Sonesta’s global franchising operations. Before joining Sonesta, Pierce held senior roles at the Passionality Group, Wyndham Hotel Group and Cendant Corporation.

Leer, currently an executive vice president at The RMR Group, has been with the organization since 2013. He has held various senior finance and accounting positions, most recently serving as president and CEO of AlerisLife Inc. since 2022. During his tenure at AlerisLife, said the announcement, Leer oversaw the company’s post-pandemic recovery, achieving a significant increase in senior living net operating income.

The leadership transition at Sonesta comes as the company continues to manage and franchise more than 1,000 properties, including 69 managed on behalf of Service Properties Trust. The new co-CEOs, said the announcement, will focus on advancing Sonesta’s growth strategy, which emphasizes franchise expansion and operational improvements.

Pierce and Leer will lead Sonesta’s efforts to enhance its market presence and operational efficiency, said the announcement, working with the company’s leadership team and approximately 7,000 employees. The strategic focus will include leveraging technology and optimizing commercial infrastructure to support Sonesta’s growth objectives.