LOS ANGELES—sbe, the Los Angeles-based leading lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages and operates hospitality venues, has hired Philippe Zrihen as partner and member of its executive committee.
In this role, Zrihen will work alongside sbe founder and CEO Sam Nazarian on driving the company’s strategic vision and direction. Starting on Oct. 1, Zrihen will have oversight over all of sbe’s corporate strategic and growth initiatives, including leading the company’s investment, capital markets and portfolio management activities. Zrihen will be based in New York.
“I have worked with Phil for several years and he has been instrumental in facilitating some of our most recent exciting expansions, most notably, our announced acquisition of Morgans Hotel Group,” said Nazarian. “His extensive background combining strategic advisory, financial and hospitality expertise is unparalleled and we welcome him to the sbe team, and look forward to our continued growth under our combined leadership.”
“Since launching sbe 15 years ago, Sam has reimagined and transformed the boutique lifestyle hospitality industry,” said Zrihen. “In my longstanding role as financial advisor to sbe, I have been able to witness firsthand the revolutionary vision that Sam has brought to the industry. I am delighted to now have the opportunity to work closely with him to help guide sbe during this pivotal time, as we build the most distinctive, integrated lifestyle experience across all of the company’s segments.”
Zrihen joins sbe from Houlihan Lokey where he served as managing director within the real estate strategic advisory group and was responsible for the firm’s global hospitality and leisure efforts. Prior to joining Houlihan, Zrihen was a managing director at Rothschild, Inc., where he co-founded and led the firm’s North American Hospitality Practice.
Zrihen is recognized as a leading authority in hospitality investment banking, having served as trusted senior advisor to many of the industry’s most prominent companies and investment firms, according to the company. Throughout his 20-year career he has served as banker on more than $50 billion of strategic, M&A and capital markets assignments across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Most recently, Zrihen played an instrumental role in working with Nazarian on the acquisition of Morgans Hotels Group by sbe.