Sonesta International Hotels announced it has appointed Keith Pierce and Jeff Leer as co-chief executive officers, effective April 1, 2026, as the company prepares for the retirement of current CEO John Murray at the end of March.
Pierce currently serves as executive vice president and president of franchise and development at Sonesta, a role he has held since joining the company’s executive leadership team in 2021. Sonesta credited Pierce with helping drive the expansion of its global franchising business. Before Sonesta, he held senior roles at The Passionality Group, Wyndham Hotel Group, and Cendant Corporation.
Leer is an executive vice president at The RMR Group and a member of its management committee. He has held senior finance and accounting leadership roles within the organization since 2013, and most recently served as president and CEO of AlerisLife, starting in 2022, where Sonesta said he oversaw a post-pandemic recovery that included a 440% increase in senior living net operating income during his tenure.
Pierce and Leer will succeed Murray, who is retiring from Sonesta and from his position as an executive vice president at The RMR Group, effective March 31, 2026. Sonesta said the incoming co-CEOs will focus on advancing the company’s “asset-right,” franchise-focused growth strategy, alongside continued technology and commercial infrastructure investments and operational initiatives.
Sonesta said it owns, manages, and franchises more than 1,000 properties, including management of 69 hotels on behalf of Service Properties Trust.
KEY QUOTE:
“We are honored to lead Sonesta into its next phase of growth. Over the past several years, Sonesta has transformed its management business, franchise business, technology, and commercial infrastructure under John’s leadership, creating a strong foundation for the future. Building on this progress, we are committed to advancing Sonesta’s ‘asset-right,’ franchise-focused growth strategy, leveraging innovative technology, and driving operational excellence to expand market share and deliver an exceptional guest experience across all segments. We look forward to working closely with our talented leadership team and roughly 7,000 employees to achieve these goals.”
Keith Pierce and Jeff Leer, Incoming Co-Chief Executive Officers, Sonesta
