Hotel and hotel distribution technology supplier Pegasus Solutions today announced the appointment of a new CEO as Pegasus founder John Davis III is stepping down from the position.
Effective immediately, Pegasus COO Michael Kistner is moving up to the CEO slot. Kistner has worked at Pegasus since 2005, when he joined the company as senior vice president of operations and service delivery and, according to Pegasus board member Kevin Richardson II, has been the driving force behind such recent launches as the RezView NG central reservation system. "The recent launch of RezView NG, which is redefining market standards in central reservation systems, is just one example of the pillars that will ensure the company remains a leading force in the market," Kistner said in a prepared statement.
Prior to his work at Pegasus, Kistner has worked in a variety of roles in the hotel industry, including executive positions at Best Western International, Cendant Corp. and Super 8 Motels.
Davis, who has been at the helm of Pegasus since founding it almost 20 years ago, oversaw a number of milestones at the company, including a number of acquisitions, the company's initial public offer and its later return to private ownership.
BTN has named him to its annual Top 25 Most Influential Executives of the Business Travel Industry list six times,
including its most recent, largely for the acquisitions of WizCom and GuestClick, which played a key role in the development of the central reservation system.
"I have been thinking about this transition for some time, and I am confident this is the right time to put the full capabilities of the company behind Mike, whose deep industry knowledge, extraordinary leadership ability and diverse skills will serve the company well," Davis said in a statement.