Steve’s breakdown: This group includes the SLS and The Redbury hotel brands and the new CMO is from Caesars which just went into review last week.

LOS ANGELES, CA: SBE Hotel Group, Los Angeles, announced the appointment of a new president, Sam Bakhshandehpour, and new chief marketing officer, Veronica Smiley.

Bakhshandehpour spent the last 12 years with J.P. Morgan Securities’ Real Estate, Lodging & Gaming Investment Banking practice on the West Coast. While at J.P. Morgan, Sam focused on mergers and acquisitions and capital raising for the Lodging & Gaming companies, as well as REITs, homebuilders and real estate private equity funds. Prior to J.P. Morgan, Bakhshandehpour was in the Real Estate, Lodging & Gaming Investment Banking Group at Deutsche Bank and based out of New York City.

Prior to SBE, Smiley served as vice president of corporate marketing for Caesars Entertainment. During her time with Caesars, Smiley was instrumental in the highly re-launch of the company’s global loyalty program, developing a strategic partnerships platform and launching an integrated VIP concierge service for group business.

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