Edward J. Blum has been appointed EVP Development & Acquisitions at Aimbridge EMEA

In his new position, he will be responsible for identifying management contract opportunities and hotel acquisition candidates, as well as overseeing the company’s relationships with hotel owners and hotel franchise companies. Blum will report to Leslie Ng, Interstate’s chief investment officer. He joins Interstate from Molinaro Koger, an international hotel real estate advisory firm, where he served as global head of capital markets. Under his leadership, the group originated more than $1 billion in debt and equity financing for hospitality transactions throughout the U.S, Europe, and Asia. Previously, he was senior vice president of finance for Europe at Wyndham International, where he restructured Wyndham’s European investments and directed hotel acquisition and development activities in the UK, France, Italy and Spain. Blum also served as chief financial officer for Grand Heritage Hotel Group, an international owner/operator of historic boutique properties; vice president of capital markets, mergers and acquisitions at Patriot American Hospitality; and chief financial officer of the Imperial Hotel Corporation and The Cafritz Company.