Key points:
- Mitch Less appointed as COO and John Willman promoted to CFO
- Jared Saft named Chief Business & Strategy Officer, overseeing marketing, sales and product development
- Additional promotions include roles focused on customer service, real estate development and digital marketing
Westgate Resorts has restructured its executive leadership team to align with its long-term growth strategy. The appointments are aimed at expanding operational capabilities, improving financial management and advancing marketing and development initiatives.
Mitch Less has been appointed as COO and will oversee resort operations, IT and risk management. Less brings over 35 years of experience in hospitality and real estate, including roles with Ritz-Carlton and Marriott.
John Willman, a 30-year veteran of Westgate, has been promoted to CFO. Willman has led the company’s financial operations since joining in 1994 and was recently appointed to the Board of Directors at the American Resort Development Association (ARDA).
Jared Saft has been named Chief Business & Strategy Officer. Saft, who has been with Westgate for 18 years, will oversee marketing, hotel sales, product development and human resources. He previously led the launch of Westgate’s loyalty program, World of Westgate (WOW) and has managed partnerships such as the company’s collaboration with Choice Hotels.
Dana Wadsworth has been promoted to Chief of Staff while retaining her role as SVP of the Vacation Ownership Advantage (VOA) program, which has seen record sales growth.
Garrett Stump has been named SVP of Owner Services & Inventory Management and will focus on expanding timeshare offerings and customer service.
Chad Severance will lead Development & Design as SVP, drawing on experience from Disney and Universal Creative to oversee resort projects.
Alex Velazquez has been promoted to SVP of Digital Marketing & Creative Services, tasked with advancing the company’s marketing strategies.
David Alexander Siegel and Daniel Siegel have been appointed Co-VP’s of Real Estate, focusing on managing property investments and development projects.
Heather Tritchel and Sam King have been promoted to SVP’s of Specialty Marketing, overseeing targeted marketing initiatives and IT projects.
In 2022, Westgate hosted its 11th annual Westgate Salutes Military Weekend, providing free vacations to over 1,000 active military personnel in Orlando. Since its launch, the program has benefited more than 26,000 service members.
In the same year, Westgate partnered with EV Mobility to introduce electric vehicles at its Las Vegas resort, offering transportation services for timeshare guests and supporting sustainability efforts.
