Peregrine Hospitality has appointed Heather Stege as chief operating officer and added three senior vice presidents to its leadership team, marking a significant expansion of the company’s executive ranks as it pursues growth across multiple hotel segments.
Stege joins from KBP Inspired, part of restaurant franchise operator KBP Brands, where she served as brand president overseeing Arby’s operations across four states and 120 locations. Previously, she was president of Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, where she quadrupled the Chicago-based chain’s brick-and-mortar footprint. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles at Paper Source and worked in consulting at McKinsey & Company.
Greg Kennealey, CEO of Peregrine Hospitality, said Stege’s background leading multi-unit brands brings a valuable operating perspective to the company. She has a proven ability to strengthen platforms while driving performance, which aligns well with where we are as a company as we continue to expand, he said.
Three SVPs join in newly created roles
Alongside Stege’s appointment, Peregrine announced three senior vice presidents in newly created positions spanning technology, human resources and asset management.
Anthony Gaeta joins as SVP of technology and IT operations, bringing more than 20 years of experience in technology leadership. He most recently worked at Benchmark Hospitality International.
Christina Gregg takes the role of SVP of people and HR operations with more than 25 years of human resources leadership across hospitality and entertainment. She most recently served as SVP of global human resources at Hornblower Group and previously held leadership roles at Benchmark and Gaylord Hotels.
Jeff Gross becomes SVP of asset management after more than two decades in hotel investment and asset management. He most recently led the managed hotel division at Choice Hotels International, overseeing operations, capital projects and management contracts for a 13-hotel portfolio.
Karen DiFulgo, chief people officer at Peregrine Hospitality, said the appointments reflect the company’s commitment to building a world-class leadership team. Anthony, Christina and Jeff each bring deep expertise and proven leadership in their respective fields, she said. Their contributions are pivotal in driving innovation, empowering our people and enhancing portfolio performance.
Rebrand drives expansion beyond resorts
The leadership expansion follows Peregrine Hospitality’s rebrand from KSL Resorts in January 2025, a move designed to signal broader ambitions beyond its traditional resort management focus. The company has since added 26 select-service properties to its portfolio through its partnership with Mission Hill Hospitality.
Peregrine currently manages 92 properties across the US, Fiji, the Maldives, Mauritius and Thailand. The portfolio spans distinctive resorts and boutique hotels – including the Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego – alongside a growing collection of select-service properties.
The company also recently appointed Stacy Galligan as chief financial officer and a new chief commercial officer, completing a substantial refresh of its C-suite since the rebrand.
CEO Kennealey has positioned Peregrine as an owner-operator platform differentiated by its hands-on approach. The company maintains ownership interests in some properties while managing assets for KSL Capital Partners and Mission Hill Hospitality.
For HR leaders, the appointments signal Peregrine’s investment in operational infrastructure as it scales across multiple hotel segments – from luxury resorts to premium select-service. The creation of dedicated SVP roles for technology, people operations and asset management suggests a company building capacity for continued portfolio growth.
