The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, May 2015 … Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has named Kirk Jones senior vice president of finance. Greg Champion, Benchmark’s chief operating officer, made the announcement.

“It is with great pleasure that I welcome Kirk to the Benchmark Hospitality organization,” said Mr. Champion. “He brings important expertise within our market niche—independently-branded hotels and resorts, as well as a global perspective on the hospitality industry.”

In his new role, Kirk Jones has responsibility for the overall financial operations of Benchmark Hospitality International and the company’s portfolio of nearly 40 hotels, resorts and meeting facilities. Additionally, he lends strategic direction to and oversees the deployment of Benchmark’s financial assets system-wide.

Prior to joining Benchmark Hospitality, Mr. Jones was executive vice president of finance for Capella Hotel Group, a company with a portfolio of independent and branded properties across the globe. His position included financial oversight of hotels and resorts in the international markets of the European Union, Russia, China, Indonesia, Singapore, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Kirk Jones previously successfully founded and operated an independent special event management company that concentrated on high-end social gatherings. Prior to this endeavor, he held property and regional financial positions within several branded hotel companies, including Hilton, Ritz-Carlton, Doubletree and Embassy Suites.

Mr. Jones attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Administration from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance from Cleveland State University. Mr. Jones and his family are relocating to The Woodlands.