PLANO, Texas – May 4, 2026 – Aimbridge Hospitality, the world’s leading third-party hotel management company, today announced the appointment of Colin J. Parris, Ph.D., to its Board of Managers, effective immediately. Parris brings acclaimed expertise in artificial intelligence, digital transformation and enterprise technology strategy, with a strong track record of driving technology adoption at scale across multiple global industries.
“On behalf of the Board, we are pleased to welcome Colin as our newest member,” said Steve Joyce, Chairman of the Board for Aimbridge Hospitality. “His deep expertise in digital transformation and AI brings a critical perspective to our boardroom at a time when technology is reshaping the hospitality landscape. Colin’s track record of leading large-scale innovation efforts will sharpen our strategic oversight and help ensure Aimbridge remains at the forefront of the industry.”
Parris retired from General Electric in 2024 after serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at GE Digital and a Senior Corporate Officer of the General Electric Company. In those roles, he led GE’s strategic technology vision across its aviation, power and renewables businesses and founded the company’s Digital Twin Initiative – an engineering modeling and analytics capability widely recognized as a breakthrough in industrial AI.
“I am honored to join Aimbridge’s Board at such a transformative time for the hospitality sector,” said Parris. “The industry is being reshaped by emerging technologies and data, two areas that are my specialty. Aimbridge’s scale, market leadership and commitment to innovation create a unique opportunity to reimagine how technology can support both operational excellence and owner value. I look forward to working with the Board and leadership team to help drive that next chapter and generate added efficiencies for hotel owners.”
Prior to GE, Parris spent 20 years at IBM in senior executive roles spanning research, P&L management, software development and corporate strategy. He currently serves on the boards of Aptiv PLC, Diebold Nixdorf and Corebridge Financial, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and an NACD Directorship Certified director. Parris is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and was named the 2023 Black Engineer of the Year by Career Communications Group. He earned advanced degrees from the University of California, Berkeley and Stanford University and holds over 18 patents.
Parris joins current Aimbridge Board of Managers members Chairman Steve Joyce, Glenn Alba, Rich Gomel, Carrie McIntyre, Emanuel (Manny) Pearlman and Chief Executive Officer Craig S. Smith.
About Aimbridge Hospitality
Aimbridge Hospitality is the world's leading global hospitality management company. A trusted operator of over 80 globally recognized lodging brands and distinctive luxury and lifestyle assets, Aimbridge delivers compelling results for hotel owners by leveraging proprietary data and insights as an authority in key markets and destinations, while creating exceptional guest experiences. The Company continually strives to set the new standard in hospitality excellence, leading the industry into the future through a wealth of unmatched resources and best-in-class supplier agreements, while recruiting and developing top industry talent in all key verticals and geographies. To learn more, visit www.aimbridgehospitality.com and connect with Aimbridge on LinkedIn.
Contact
aimbridge@icrinc.com
