Choice Appoints Dominic Dragisich as President & CEO
By Jordan Bradley
Choice Hotels International appointed interim-CEO Dominic Dragisich to the role of President and CEO effective August 31.
Dragisich follows Patrick Pacious, who stepped down from his position as President and CEO this May. Pacious had been in role since 2017.
Dragisich has been with Choice for almost a decade. Throughout his tenure, he has held roles with increasing responsibility throughout the company, Choice said, including CFO between 2017 and 2023 before he moved into the role of EVP of Operations and Global Brand Officer. Dragisich had just moved into the role of Chief Growth and Strategy Officer this March before becoming the interim-CEO.
While with Choice, Dragisich has “played a pivotal role” in growing Choice, the company said, “helping lead major acquisitions and advancing key strategic initiatives that have expanded the Company’s portfolio, reinforced its competitive position, and created long-term value for franchisees and shareholders.”
“Dom has been a proven, exceptional leader for nearly a decade at Choice Hotels. Since stepping into the role of Interim CEO, Dom has advanced strategic priorities and fostered a performance-driven culture across the company. He brings an innovative mindset, a deep appreciation for attracting and developing great talent, and a clear vision for the future of the business,” said Stewart Bainum Jr., Chairman of Choice’s Board of Directors.
Prior to joining Choice, Dragisich held senior roles in finance at XO Communication, ending his tenure there as Chief Financial Officer, and Marriott International, NII Holdings, and Deloitte Consulting.
Bainum said that throughout the CEO candidate search, Choice “evaluated a strong slate of internal and external candidates” before concluding that Dragisich was the right choice “to build on Choice Hotels’ recent momentum, execute our strategy, and drive long-term value for our franchisees and shareholders.”
“I am honored by the Board’s confidence and grateful for the opportunity to continue leading Choice Hotels,” Dragisich said in the August 31 announcement.
“With a talented team, a higher-quality portfolio, a more accretive and diverse pipeline, and significant opportunities ahead, we are entering this next chapter from a position of strength. We remain focused on disciplined execution, accelerating growth, and strengthening our brands capitalizing on our commercial investments. I am excited to continue advancing our strategy and helping our franchisees succeed while delivering exceptional experiences for our guests.”