SAM NAZARIAN

Chairman and Chief Executive

SBE Entertainment Group

Sam Nazarian’s SBE Entertainment Group manages hotels, restaurants and nightclubs. SBE’s diverse collection of luxury lifestyle brands in North America includes SLS Hotels and Residences, Katsuya, Bazaar by José Andrés and Hyde Lounge. SBE in June sold a 50 percent stake in its business to French hotel operator AccorHotels for $319 million, paid in part ($125 million) for common stock held by real estate investment firm Cain International and Yucaipa Cos., with another $194 million for preferred equity, also held by Cain and Yucaipa. Nazarian will hang on to the remaining 50 percent stake and remain in his leadership position. Nazarian’s career began in the tech industry with a wireless company he co-founded and later sold. He began moving into development and hospitality in 2001 by successfully diversifying his family’s assets into real estate holdings. SBE launched its first nightclub in 2003. The company acquired Morgans Hotel Group for about $82 million in 2016.