Viceroy Hotel Group Executive Profiles

Bradford Korzen Principal

As the founder and CEO of Viceroy Hotel Group (formerly Kor Hotel Group), Brad Korzen has developed a dynamic portfolio of resorts and hotels, while guiding the diverse corporation behind its growth and operations.

Recognized in the trade and popular media as a leading force on the contemporary hotel scene, Korzen launched his burgeoning collection of distinctive hotels and resorts with the Southern California debut of Viceroy Santa Monica, Beverly Hills' famed Avalon Hotel and Maison 140, and Viceroy Palm Springs. In 2005 the company opened the intimate West Hollywood hideaway, the Chamberlain. Adding to the Urban Retreats collection is the Sheraton Delfina Santa Monica, a full-service business and leisure destination, with other unique properties in the planning stages.

To complement the success of the growing Viceroy brand, in 2007 Korzen introduced the elite brand, The Tides, with a major renovation of The Tides South Beach, the collection's flagship property. He also debuted new international Tides properties in Mexico—The Tides Riviera Maya (formerly Ikal del Mar) and The Tides Zihuatanejo (formerly Villa del Sol). In 2008 Viceroy Hotel Group took over management of The Jalousie Plantation in St. Lucia; the resort will be re-branded as The Tides Sugar Beach in 2011 after a $100 million renovation.

In 2009 Korzen partnered with The Related Group of Florida to launch Viceroy Miami, the centerpiece of the groundbreaking Icon Brickell enclave. Additional Viceroy-branded properties include the just-opened Viceroy Anguilla in the British West Indies and Viceroy Snowmass in Colorado, as well as future hotels and resorts in the Maldives and on Sowwah Island in Abu Dhabi.

A Chicago native and graduate of the University of Illinois, Korzen holds a Juris Doctorate from University of Miami School of Law.

Nicholas Clayton President

Nicholas Clayton ensures that Viceroy Hotel Group's hotels and resorts remain dedicated to the highest standards of excellence. He oversees expansion efforts for the company's growing portfolio while maximizing value in current operations.

Clayton brings extensive senior management experience at key international properties, as well as demonstrated success in impacting revenue growth and strong customer service cultures. A 20-year veteran of the luxury hospitality industry, he has worked with leading hospitality groups, including Four Seasons and The Ritz-Carlton hotels and resorts. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Operations for Hong Kong-based Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, where he was responsible for the group's Asian and European properties, as well as the entire portfolio's Food & Beverage and Spa divisions. In this role, Clayton proved instrumental in developing innovative processes to further build and differentiate the brand.

Clayton's career has been distinguished by a series of significant accomplishments. For more than ten years, Clayton served as General Manager for several high-profile Ritz-Carlton hotels and resorts, where he developed and implemented sales and marketing strategies that substantially increased revenue, and developed focused management teams that improved both finance and quality measurements. Building on his success, he was appointed Director of Operations for Ritz-Carlton's Australia properties and assigned to restore profitability to their two five-star hotels in Sydney.

In 1998 he became Managing Director for the Ritz-Carlton Millenia in Singapore. In this post, he led a team of 750 associates in the successful implementation of total quality management that improved market share for the property and elevated guest satisfaction ratings. As a result, the hotel was frequently recognized both regionally and internationally for outstanding customer service and overall quality. Clayton holds a Bachelor's of Business Administration, Finance degree from the University of Texas, Arlington.

Mary Pierson Chief Financial Officer

Mary Pierson oversees the company's asset management group and both corporate and hotel finance and accounting, including financial reporting, cash management, investor relations, business planning, financial analysis and risk management. Working closely with operations executives, she is leading the company to standards of financial management and reporting on par with the leading publicly traded companies in the industry.

Pierson has both CFO and CEO experience with retail and consumer products businesses, as well as an extensive background in private equity, investment banking, real estate investing and venture capital. In the last 25 years, in CEO/CFO roles she restructured two companies for GE Capital, served as Bristol Farms CFO for Oaktree Capital Management and was Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. Additionally, she was a founding partner of a regional investment banking firm, Pennsylvania Merchant Group, and co-founder of Radnor Venture Partners, a Philadelphia-based venture capital fund.

Pierson holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Wellesley College and a Masters in Business Administration, Finance from The Amos Tuck School of Dartmouth College.

Brenda Tscharner Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Brenda Tscharner joined Viceroy Hotel Group in 2001. Her responsibilities include developing benefits and compensation plans, implementing successful recruiting, retention and training plans, overseeing succession planning, handling employee relations, ensuring consistency and compliance within the company's human resources practices, and helping establish Viceroy Hotel Group as an "Employer of Choice."

Tscharner brings an extensive level of luxury hospitality and human resources experience to the Executive Team. She spent the first 14 years of her career with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, holding a variety of human resources positions at four different Four Seasons locations. She began her career at the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel in Santa Barbara in 1986, and then spent five years at the Four Seasons Resort & Club in Dallas, Texas, home of the Byron Nelson Golf Classic. She was also a Corporate Trainer for the Company while holding the role of Director of Human Resources at the Four Seasons hotels in Houston and Austin, Texas. She has participated in a number of leadership training programs through the Center for Creative Leadership in La Jolla, California.

Tscharner holds a B.A. Degree in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and completed her sophomore year at the University of California, Los Angeles. Tscharner also has a background in journalism.

Jason Herthel Senior Vice President, Project Development

As the head of Viceroy Hotel Group’s Abu Dhabi office, Jason oversees all aspects of the company’s business development activities in the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and Asia. Prior to joining Viceroy Hotel Group, he served as a Principal and General Counsel of The Setai Group, the developer of The Setai Resort & Residences, South Beach. Herthel was previously an Associate in the Resort, Restaurant and Recreation practice group of the law firm Paul, Hastings, Janofsky and Walker in Los Angeles.

He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Stanford University, his Masters in Public Administration degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and his law degree from Harvard Law School.

Michael R. Paneri Senior Vice President, Hotel Development

With 25 years of experience in premier resort, hotel, hospitality and leisure project development worldwide, Michael Paneri brings an invaluable skill set to the Viceroy Hotel Group team. A licensed architect and seasoned corporate executive, Michael's vast expertise includes initial site assessment/project feasibility, design and construction, business development and operational luxury hotel management.

Most recently he headed his own firm, Michael Paneri Consulting, with projects including the major renovation of New York's venerable Plaza Hotel. Previously, Paneri was Vice President, Design & Construction for Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. During his six-year tenure, he was a key member of the company's corporate leadership through a period of significant worldwide growth, and he developed and administered Rosewood's luxury quality standards. Among the many new resorts and hotels Paneri focused on were the Grand Cayman Resort/Grand Cayman Island, Copley Square/Boston, Deer Crest Resort/Deer Valley, UT and the Al Corniche/Jeddah and Al Faisaliah/Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Prior to Rosewood, Paneri was Director of the Board, Vice President and Senior Principal at Wimberly, Allison, Tong & Goo. During 14 years there, he managed some of WATG's largest resort, hotel, casino, retail and entertainment projects including The Venetian and Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Paneri holds a BS in Architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and studied Land Development & Management at University of California, Irvine. He is a licensed architect in California, Nevada and New Jersey, and is NCARB certified.

Brian De Lowe Vice President, Acquisitions & Development

Brian De Lowe oversees all aspects of the company’s business development activities in North America, Central America, and South America, working under Jeff Smith in the Los Angeles corporate office.

He also plays a key role in asset management, corporate planning, and strategic partnerships. Previously with Kor Realty Group/Kor Hotel Group, De Lowe served as Development Director, leading the acquisition, development and redevelopment of mixed-use and hotel projects in the US and Latin America.

He previously worked as an associate in the Debt & Structured Finance group of Buchanan Street Partners in Los Angeles, where he structured and closed over $200 million in debt and equity transactions across various real estate product types. Brian has taught Real Estate Development classes at UCLA Extension, is a frequent speaker on panels and roundtables at industry events, and serves on the board of the Los Angeles council of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Hostelling International USA. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California, graduating Magna cum Laude with a concentration in Real Estate Finance and Global Management.