OpenKey announced today that Ron Owens, a 25-year veteran of software development, has been appointed by the board of directors as the company's new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

Founder and former CEO TJ Person said, "It has been an honor to serve as OpenKey's CEO since its founding, and I am proud of what our team has accomplished in bringing Digital Key solutions to the market." Person continued, "I'm also excited for our team to benefit from Ron's leadership in software development as he guides OpenKey through its next phase of product innovation and company growth."

Owens has over 25 years' experience in software development with a focus on creating innovative products, custom applications, and SaaS solutions. Prior to joining OpenKey, Owens worked at companies such as Aria Solutions, Intervoice, and EDS, where he went through the system engineering development program. Additionally, while working at companies such as Bank of America, First Data, and Nortel, Owens developed and leveraged his expertise in operations and systems implementation. Within these enterprises, he was responsible for managing the design, development, and project management of contact centers and messaging solutions for the Americas. Ron holds an MBA from Old Dominion University.

"Ron is a proven technology leader, and I'm confident he will continue to deliver on OpenKey's promise of perfecting mobile access solutions," said Stephen Zsigray, SVP of Strategy at Ashford Inc. "While we are excited to begin our next chapter with Ron and the entire leadership team, I want to thank TJ for his incredible contributions to the company. He's a gifted entrepreneur and has been instrumental in developing the brand and positioning OpenKey as the undisputed market leader."

"I know that I speak for the entire OpenKey team in thanking TJ for his dedication to the company and visionary leadership," said Owens. "The OpenKey team is incredibly talented and focused on product innovation and growth. I am excited to join them in this new role and look forward to the future of the company."

In 2014, OpenKey set out to perfect mobile access. Since then, the OpenKey team has helped hotels and resorts around the world develop a guest experience they can enjoy as much as their guests do. We work with existing platforms to advance your property into an exciting new era of customer engagement. Our dedicated staff provides a seamless transition to keyless entry, remote check-in, hotel-specific apps, and much more, all tailored to your property and your guests. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices. For more information, please visit www.openkey.co.

Rachel Barnes

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