Red Lion Hotels Corp. president and CEO Jon Eliassen will retire effective Aug. 12,

the company announced this week. Eliassen, who in a statement said he had been discussing retirement with the company's board 'for several months,' has served in the position since January 2010 and as a director of Red Lion for a decade. He will remain on the company's board through the end of September. Company director James Evans, who has served as CEO of Brand USA, Ardent Hotel Advisors and Best Western International as well as Jenny Craig International, will act as interim president and CEO as the board searches for a permanent replacement.