Before becoming our Chair, Mr. Donald served as our Co-Chairman since April 2019. Prior to that, Mr. Donald served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since September 2018 and, prior to that, served as President and Chief Operating Officer since joining ACI in March 2018. Previously, Mr. Donald served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Extended Stay America, Inc., a large North American owner and operator of hotels, and its subsidiary, ESH Hospitality, Inc. (together with Extended Stay America, Inc., “ESH”), from February 2012 to July 2015, and as Senior Advisor of ESH from August 2015 to December 2015.
Prior to joining ESH, Mr. Donald served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Starbucks Corporation, President and Chief Executive Officer of regional food and drug retailer Haggen Food & Pharmacy. He was also the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of regional food and drug retailer Pathmark Stores, Inc., and held a variety of other senior and executive roles at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Safeway Inc. and Albertson’s, Inc. Mr. Donald began his grocery and retail career in 1971 with Publix Super Markets, Inc.
Mr. Donald has served on the board of directors of Nordstrom, Inc., a leading fashion retailer, since April 2020, on the Advisory Board of Jacobs Holding AG, a Switzerland-based global investment firm, since 2015, and as a member of the board of directors at Barry Callebaut AG, a Switzerland-based manufacturer of chocolate and cocoa, from 2008 to 2018.