Corporate Governance

Stephen P. Holmes has served as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board since May 2018. Mr. Holmes previously served as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from July 2006 until May 2018. Mr. Holmes was Vice Chairman and director of Cendant Corporation and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cendant’s Travel Content Division from December 1997 to July 2006. Mr. Holmes was Vice Chairman of HFS Incorporated (HFS) from September 1996 to December 1997, a director of HFS from June 1994 to December 1997 and Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of HFS from July 1990 to September 1996. Mr. Holmes also currently serves as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Wyndham Hotels. Mr. Holmes’ exceptional leadership as our former CEO provides him with detailed strategic perspective and knowledge of our operations and industry that are critical to the Board’s effectiveness. He possesses extensive public company management experience and is widely recognized as a visionary leader in the global hospitality industry.

Michael D. Brown serves as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Travel + Leisure Co., and is a member of its Board of Directors. Brown is responsible for the performance, growth, and strategic direction of the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company, providing more than six million vacations to travelers every year. 

Brown joined the company in 2017, and in June 2018 led its subsequent evolution to Wyndham Destinations as an independent public company, globally headquartered in Orlando, FL, after spinning off Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. In 2021, Wyndham Destinations acquired the iconic Travel + Leisure brand and became Travel + Leisure Co., aligned with its strategy to be the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company.

Previously, Brown served as Chief Operating Officer at Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV). Prior to being appointed as COO for HGV in 2014, he held the role of Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing – Mainland U.S. and Europe. Prior to joining HGV in 2008, Brown served in a series of leadership roles throughout the U.S., Europe and the Caribbean during his more than 16 years at Marriott International and Marriott Vacation Club International.

A leisure travel industry veteran of more than 30 years, Brown’s leadership is infused with a combination of strategic vision, operational expertise, authentic engagement, and industry knowledge. He drives the company’s commitment to be responsive and engaged through socially conscious initiatives, and fosters its global spirit of hospitality and responsible tourism. Aligned with the culture of inclusion and diversity, Brown leads the company’s Global Inclusion and Diversity Council. 

Brown earned a bachelor’s degree from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia. He currently serves as a member of the World Travel & Tourism Council, The Travel and Tourism Council - Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, The Real Estate Roundtable, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) Executive Committee. He served as Chair of the ARDA Board of Directors from 2021-2024. He is also a member of the Orlando Economic Partnership Governor’s Council, an Advisory Council Member of the Enzian Theatre, and serves on the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando Board of Directors. In 2023, for the fifth consecutive year, Brown was named to the Florida Trend 500 List as a top business leader in Florida. He was also recognized by Junior Achievement of Central Florida and named to their Hall of Fame, receiving the Spirit of Achievement Award.

Inspired by the pages of Travel + Leisure magazine, the company puts the world on vacation through vacation club and membership travel businesses for some of the world’s leading leisure travel brands, including Club Wyndham, WorldMark by Wyndham, Margaritaville Vacation Club, Accor Vacation Club, and Sports Illustrated Resorts, and timeshare exchange network, RCI. With hospitality and responsible tourism at its heart, the company employs 19,000+ dedicated associates around the globe.

Louise F. Brady, has served as a Director since November 2016. She is a co-founder and has served as the Managing Partner of Piedmont Capital Partners, LLC (PCP), Piedmont Capital Partners II, LLC (PCP II), and Piedmont Capital Investments, LLC (PCI) since March 2013, March 2019 and February 2020, respectively. PCP and PCP II are privately held venture capital funds that focus on developing innovative technologies and PCI is a privately held investment entity that focuses on transformative investments in emerging technology companies. She also currently serves as President of Blue Current, Inc., a position she has held since May 2014. From September 1996 to October 2013, she served as Vice President of Investments at Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Services. Ms. Brady serves on the Board of Directors of Comcast Corporation.

James E. Buckman has served as a Director since July 2006 and Lead Director since March 2010. From May 2007 to January 2012, Mr. Buckman served as Vice Chairman of York Capital Management, a hedge fund management company headquartered in New York City. From May 1, 2010 to January 2012, Mr. Buckman also served as General Counsel of York Capital Management and from January 2007 to May 2007 he served as a Senior Consultant to York Capital Management. Mr. Buckman was General Counsel and a director of Cendant from December 1997 to August 2006, a Vice Chairman of Cendant from November 1998 to August 2006 and a Senior Executive Vice President of Cendant from December 1997 to November 1998. Mr. Buckman was Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of HFS Incorporated from May 1997 to December 1997, a director of HFS from June 1994 to December 1997 and Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of HFS from February 1992 to May 1997.  Mr. Buckman has also served as a member of the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. board of directors since May 2018.

George Herrera has served as a Director since July 2006. Since December 2003, Mr. Herrera has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Herrera-Cristina Group, Ltd., a Hispanic-owned, multidisciplinary management firm. From August 1998 to January 2004, Mr. Herrera served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Herrera served as President of David J. Burgos & Associates, Inc. from December 1979 to July 1998. Mr. Herrera served as a director of Cendant from January 2004 to August 2006.

Lucinda C. Martinez, has served as a Director since November 2021. In May 2022, Ms. Martinez founded Lumark, LLC, a multicultural marketing consulting firm providing media clients with a culture-first strategic approach to driving awareness and engagement across targeted audiences through culturally aligned advertising and promotional tactics. Previously, Ms. Martinez was Vice President, Global Brand & Multicultural Marketing at Netflix, Inc., one of the world’s leading entertainment subscription services, from September 2021 through June 2022, and led the development, strategy and execution of brand transformation, audience engagement, and insight-driven brand positioning within a cultural context for Netflix globally. Prior to that, she spent nearly 20 years with WarnerMedia, a media company with a portfolio of iconic entertainment, news, and sports brands, in roles of increasing responsibility, including serving as Executive Vice President, Brand Marketing HBO and HBO Max from August 2020 to March 2021 and as Executive Vice President, Multicultural Marketing, Brand & Inclusion Strategy from September 2019 to August 2020. During her tenure with Warner Media, she built a best-in-class multicultural marketing team that created meaningful, long-term connections with the brand’s fans across the rapidly changing global marketplace. Ms. Martinez serves on the Board of Trustees of The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and on the Advisory Board of The Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

Denny Marie Post, has served as a Director since May 2018. Ms. Post previously served as Co-President of Nextbite from June 2022 to May 2023.  Ms. Post also previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. from August 2016 and as President from February 2016 until her retirement in April 2019. She also serves on the boards of Vital Farms (VITL), Bluestone Lane Holdings, and Libbey Glass.  She previously served as a member of the Red Robin Board of Directors. Prior to that, Ms. Post served as Executive Vice President and Chief Concept Officer of Red Robin beginning in March 2015. Ms. Post joined Red Robin in August 2011 as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Ms. Post has more than 30 years of leadership experience in consumer driven marketing, product innovation and strategic team building. Prior to her role at Red Robin, Ms. Post served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at T-Mobile USA. Ms. Post previously held the roles of Senior Vice President of Global Beverage, Food and Quality for Starbucks Corporation as well as the Senior Vice President and Chief Concept Office for Burger King. Ms. Post also held several management positions for KFC USA, KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell Canada while she was employed with YUM! Brands, Inc.

Ronald L Rickles has served as a Director since 2018. He was a senior partner with Deloitte & Touche until his retirement in 2014. He served in a variety of leadership roles, including managing partner for the New Jersey offices and Northeast regional leader of the firm’s professional services practice for mid-market and privately held companies. Earlier serving as an audit partner for 30 years, Mr. Rickles was the lead partner serving some of the firm’s most significant clients with deep experience serving the hospitality industry (including timeshare), REITs, retailers, financial services companies and franchisors, including the legacy businesses of Wyndham Destinations.

Michael H. Wargotz, has served as a Director since July 2006. Mr. Wargotz is a private investor, involved with various start-up ventures. From July 2011 to June 2017, he was the Chairman of Axcess Ventures, an affiliate of Access Worldwide, a brand experience marketing development agency, which he co-founded in 2001. From August 2010 to June 2011, Mr. Wargotz served as the Chief Financial Officer of The Milestone Aviation Group, LLC, a global aviation leasing company. From August 2009 to July 2010, Mr. Wargotz served as the Co-Chairman of Axcess Luxury and Lifestyle. From December 2006 to August 2009, Mr. Wargotz served as the Chief Financial Advisor of NetJets, Inc., a leading provider of private aviation services, and from June 2004 to November 2006, he served as Vice President of NetJets. From January 1998 to December 1999, Mr. Wargotz served in various leadership positions with Cendant, including President and Chief Executive Officer of its Lifestyle Division, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of its Alliance Marketing Segment and Senior Vice President, Business Development. Prior to 1998, Mr. Wargotz served in various finance and accounting positions at HFS Incorporated, PaineWebber & Co, America Express and Price Waterhouse. Mr. Wargotz previously served as a director of Quotient Technology Inc. from February 2023 to September 2023, Resources Connection, Inc. from May 2009 to October 2021, and CST Brands, Inc. from May 2013 to June 2017.