HOUSTON-Abby Office Centers has tapped William Edmundson as president and chief executive officer.
In his new role with the executive suites company, the former hospitality executive will head up the company’s expansion plans, which call for 10 to 15% growth annually over the next three to five years. Edmundson will report to Abby Office Centers Chairman Chris Brown, who founded the company. Brown is transitioning management responsibilities of Abby Office Centers to Edmundson.
Edmundson tells GlobeSt. that he was initially approached about the Abby Office Centers’ opportunity by national executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles. “I had not really thought a lot about the executive suites industry, but when I got really excited about the industry and the opportunity the more I thought about the similarities between the hospitality industry and the executive suites industry,” he explains. “A lot of the components are the same and directly applicable to because we’re not just providing space, but we’re providing service.”
Brown says Edmundson’s “ability to build strong relationships with customers and to conceive and execute superior marketing and strategic plans, adds considerable strength to our senior management team.” He adds: “While we lease executive suites, we actually are in the service business, which makes William a great addition to our team.”
Edmundson is the former president of Cambria Suites, an upscale lodging brand, where he built a 90-property pipeline in three years after launching the concept. He led marketing, development and defining/maintaining brand standards. Prior to his role with Cambria Suites, he served as vice president, brand performance and support for Hampton Inn, a Hilton Worldwide brand. While at Hampton, he played a leadership role in the strategic planning and roll-out of the highly successful “Make It Hampton” initiative that significantly upgraded and re-positioned the brand.
Currently, Abby Office Centers has suites in 20 Sunbelt locations. Edmundson says the company will look to build its presence in markets in which it has an existing presence, as well as expand into new markets. “We’re looking for opportunistic growth, either through acquisitions or new locations,” he explains.
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