Managment
Our experienced leadership team brings decades of expertise in scaling businesses, global operations, and capital management. With a proven track record, they drive growth and innovation across industries.
MEET THE TEAM
01
CHAIRMAN
02
Al Weiss
• General Partner & Chairman of Global Blockchain Ventures.
• Former Head of Walt Disney World and President of Worldwide Operations for all of Disney Parks and Resorts. Retired after 39 years; launched Disney Cruise Line, opened Animal Kingdom, and integrated worldwide park operations.
• Former Partner at Apollo where he was involved in the acquisitions of Chuck E. Cheese and Great Wolf Resorts.
• Experience working as part of a SPAC management team (Nasdaq: ISLE).
CEO
04
James Francis
James Francis
James Francis
• Former President, CEO, and Trustee of Chesapeake Lodging Trust, a lodging REIT (NYSE: CHSP) which he founded in 2010 and sold to Park Hotels and Resorts in 2019 for $2.7B.
• Prior to Chesapeake, founded and served as President, CEO, and Trustee of Highland Hospitality Corporation, a lodging REIT (NYSE: HIH) through its sale in 2007.
• Additional executive roles include COO and CFO of Crestline Capital Corporation, a hospitality business with annual sales in excess of $4B, and its successor, Barceló Crestline Corporation (resulting from acquisition by Barceló Group).
• Former Assistant Treasurer and VP of Corporate Finance for Host Marriott Corporation.
• Former President, CEO, and Trustee of Chesapeake Lodging Trust, a lodging REIT (NYSE: CHSP) which he founded in 2010 and sold to Park Hotels and Resorts in 2019 for $2.7B.
• Prior to Chesapeake, founded and served as President, CEO, and Trustee of Highland Hospitality Corporation, a lodging REIT (NYSE: HIH) through its sale in 2007.
• Additional executive roles include COO and CFO of Crestline Capital Corporation, a hospitality business with annual sales in excess of $4B, and its successor, Barceló Crestline Corporation (resulting from acquisition by Barceló Group).
• Former Assistant Treasurer and VP of Corporate Finance for Host Marriott Corporation.
• Former President, CEO, and Trustee of Chesapeake Lodging Trust, a lodging REIT (NYSE: CHSP) which he founded in 2010 and sold to Park Hotels and Resorts in 2019 for $2.7B.
• Prior to Chesapeake, founded and served as President, CEO, and Trustee of Highland Hospitality Corporation, a lodging REIT (NYSE: HIH) through its sale in 2007.
• Additional executive roles include COO and CFO of Crestline Capital Corporation, a hospitality business with annual sales in excess of $4B, and its successor, Barceló Crestline Corporation (resulting from acquisition by Barceló Group).
• Former Assistant Treasurer and VP of Corporate Finance for Host Marriott Corporation.
CFO
05
Jonathan Morris
Jonathan Morris
Jonathan Morris
• Prior SPAC experience as CFO of Twelve Seas Investment Company II and Chief Development Officer of TLG Acquisition One Corp.
• Over 23 years of experience as a finance executive as a principal, operator and advisor. Led principal investments and structuring at a large private family office.
• Served as an investment executive at Blackstone Group, Inc., from 2012 to 2016, and on the Board of SunGard AS, from 2014 to 2016.
• Formerly with Credit Suisse TMT Investment Banking Group from 2005 to 2012 and the private equity division of Lombard, Odier et Cie.
• Prior SPAC experience as CFO of Twelve Seas Investment Company II and Chief Development Officer of TLG Acquisition One Corp.
• Over 23 years of experience as a finance executive as a principal, operator and advisor. Led principal investments and structuring at a large private family office.
• Served as an investment executive at Blackstone Group, Inc., from 2012 to 2016, and on the Board of SunGard AS, from 2014 to 2016.
• Formerly with Credit Suisse TMT Investment Banking Group from 2005 to 2012 and the private equity division of Lombard, Odier et Cie.
• Prior SPAC experience as CFO of Twelve Seas Investment Company II and Chief Development Officer of TLG Acquisition One Corp.
• Over 23 years of experience as a finance executive as a principal, operator and advisor. Led principal investments and structuring at a large private family office.
• Served as an investment executive at Blackstone Group, Inc., from 2012 to 2016, and on the Board of SunGard AS, from 2014 to 2016.
• Formerly with Credit Suisse TMT Investment Banking Group from 2005 to 2012 and the private equity division of Lombard, Odier et Cie.
BOARD MEMBER
06
Thomas Wolber
Thomas Wolber
Thomas Wolber
• President & CEO of Crystal Cruises.
• Numerous former executive roles at various Disney enterprises including Senior VP of Operations for Disney Cruise Lines, President and CEO of Groupe Euro Disney, Senior VP of Resort & Transportation Operations for WDW Resorts, Senior VP of Disney Sports Enterprises and Downtown Disney, and VP of Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park.
• President & CEO of Crystal Cruises.
• Numerous former executive roles at various Disney enterprises including Senior VP of Operations for Disney Cruise Lines, President and CEO of Groupe Euro Disney, Senior VP of Resort & Transportation Operations for WDW Resorts, Senior VP of Disney Sports Enterprises and Downtown Disney, and VP of Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park.
• President & CEO of Crystal Cruises.
• Numerous former executive roles at various Disney enterprises including Senior VP of Operations for Disney Cruise Lines, President and CEO of Groupe Euro Disney, Senior VP of Resort & Transportation Operations for WDW Resorts, Senior VP of Disney Sports Enterprises and Downtown Disney, and VP of Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park.
BOARD MEMBERV
08
Christina Francis
Christina Francis
Christina Francis
• President of Magic Johnson Enterprises --responsible for managing and directing day-to-day operations incl. strategy, business development, and overseeing its properties and partnerships.
• Former roles including VP of marketing & events for NFL Players Inc. and Chief Marketing Officer for the Orange Bowl Committee.
• Additional strategic marketing roles with Fortune 500 companies including Burger King, Walt Disney World, Nissan Motor Company, and IBM.
• President of Magic Johnson Enterprises --responsible for managing and directing day-to-day operations incl. strategy, business development, and overseeing its properties and partnerships.
• Former roles including VP of marketing & events for NFL Players Inc. and Chief Marketing Officer for the Orange Bowl Committee.
• Additional strategic marketing roles with Fortune 500 companies including Burger King, Walt Disney World, Nissan Motor Company, and IBM.
• President of Magic Johnson Enterprises --responsible for managing and directing day-to-day operations incl. strategy, business development, and overseeing its properties and partnerships.
• Former roles including VP of marketing & events for NFL Players Inc. and Chief Marketing Officer for the Orange Bowl Committee.
• Additional strategic marketing roles with Fortune 500 companies including Burger King, Walt Disney World, Nissan Motor Company, and IBM.
BOARD MEMBER
09
Jonathan Gordon
Jonathan Gordon
Jonathan Gordon
• Managing Partner of RuttenbergGordon Investments, a multi-strategy investment firm.
• Entrepreneur and investor in a multitude of music and film companies. Founder of several music publishing, production, and management companies including 1916 MGMT, Rare Behavior, Future Moguls, and Run + Gun.
• Advisory board member for various media and entertainment companies including Utopia, Altavod, ReKTGlobal, Safari Riot, Jet MGMT, and Maison Arts.
• Managing Partner of RuttenbergGordon Investments, a multi-strategy investment firm.
• Entrepreneur and investor in a multitude of music and film companies. Founder of several music publishing, production, and management companies including 1916 MGMT, Rare Behavior, Future Moguls, and Run + Gun.
• Advisory board member for various media and entertainment companies including Utopia, Altavod, ReKTGlobal, Safari Riot, Jet MGMT, and Maison Arts.
• Managing Partner of RuttenbergGordon Investments, a multi-strategy investment firm.
• Entrepreneur and investor in a multitude of music and film companies. Founder of several music publishing, production, and management companies including 1916 MGMT, Rare Behavior, Future Moguls, and Run + Gun.
• Advisory board member for various media and entertainment companies including Utopia, Altavod, ReKTGlobal, Safari Riot, Jet MGMT, and Maison Arts.
BOARD MEMBER
09
Christopher Ackerley
Christopher Ackerley
Christopher Ackerley
• Co-founder and MD of AckerleyPartners, LLC, a Seattle-based private investment firm. Notable portfolio exits include College Sports Television to CBS, Withoutaboxto IMDb (an Amazon company), ScreenLife, LLC to Paramount and Sparq.it to Yahoo.
• Previously served as President of The AckerleyGroup, Inc. (NYSE: AK), a national media and entertainment company which he merged with Clear Channel Communications (NYSE: CCU) in 2002. Also led sale of Seattle Supersonics in 2001.
• Minority owner and serves on the Executive Committee for the Seattle Kraken of the NHL.
• Co-founder and MD of AckerleyPartners, LLC, a Seattle-based private investment firm. Notable portfolio exits include College Sports Television to CBS, Withoutaboxto IMDb (an Amazon company), ScreenLife, LLC to Paramount and Sparq.it to Yahoo.
• Previously served as President of The AckerleyGroup, Inc. (NYSE: AK), a national media and entertainment company which he merged with Clear Channel Communications (NYSE: CCU) in 2002. Also led sale of Seattle Supersonics in 2001.
• Minority owner and serves on the Executive Committee for the Seattle Kraken of the NHL.
• Co-founder and MD of AckerleyPartners, LLC, a Seattle-based private investment firm. Notable portfolio exits include College Sports Television to CBS, Withoutaboxto IMDb (an Amazon company), ScreenLife, LLC to Paramount and Sparq.it to Yahoo.
• Previously served as President of The AckerleyGroup, Inc. (NYSE: AK), a national media and entertainment company which he merged with Clear Channel Communications (NYSE: CCU) in 2002. Also led sale of Seattle Supersonics in 2001.
• Minority owner and serves on the Executive Committee for the Seattle Kraken of the NHL.
Unlocking growth in entertainment, sports, and hospitality.
Shaping the next generation of innovation in ESH industries.
Contact
© 2024 ESH Acquisition Corp.™ — All Rights Reserved.
Unlocking growth in entertainment, sports, and hospitality.
Shaping the next generation of innovation in ESH industries.
Contact
© 2024 ESH Acquisition Corp.™ — All Rights Reserved.
Unlocking growth in entertainment, sports, and hospitality.
Shaping the next generation of innovation in ESH industries.
Contact
© 2024 ESH Acquisition Corp.™ — All Rights Reserved.