Hospitality startup Sonder has expanded its board of directors ahead of its upcoming public listing.
Frits van Paasschen, former Starwood Hotels CEO, takes up an expanded role as lead independent director having served on the board since February 2020. Meanwhile, Janice Sears, former managing director and western region head at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, is joining the board and will serve as audit committee chair.
“We are privileged to benefit from Frits’ significant experience in building and operating a premier hospitality brand as a public company CEO and he has been a great strategic partner to this business as a member of the Sonder Board. I am thrilled to have him take on the expanded role of lead independent director,” said Francis Davidson, co-founder and CEO of Sonder and chair of the board.
“We’re also very excited to welcome Janice to Sonder’s Board. Her deep experience in real estate as well as corporate governance will be strong additions to Sonder’s board as we accelerate our growth and prepare to enter the public markets.”
Sonder’s board also includes Manon Brouillette, Nabeel Hyatt and Vivek Pattipati.
Sonder is going public via a merger with special purpose acquisition company Gores Metropoulos II, valuing the company at around $2.2 billion.