Jan Hajek has been appointed Executive Vice President, Asset Management & Investments at First Investors in Chicago - IL, USA
First Investors, the real estate investment affiliate of First Hospitality, has appointed Jan Hajek as Executive Vice President, Asset Management & Investments. In this role, Hajek will lead the execution of investment business plans across the firm's portfolio of premium select-service, full service and lifestyle hotels, leveraging two decades of experience in asset management, real estate investment and financial planning.
As a key member of the senior leadership team, Hajek will serve as the primary relationship manager for all debt and equity capital partners, spearhead refinancing processes and strategic asset dispositions, and manage renovation planning, budgeting, and execution in collaboration with First Hospitality. Additionally, in his new role, Hajek will be responsible for driving the implementation of investment plans across First Investors' $700 million national portfolio, manage renovation and disposition timetables, and expand the firm's pipeline of high‑conviction acquisitions.
Prior to joining First Investors, Hajek served in multiple leadership positions at AJ Capital Partners, most recently serving as Principal of Asset Management. At AJ Capital Partners he oversaw $2.5 billion in assets, orchestrated the strategic repositioning of the 37‑property Graduate Hotels collection, and co‑led its 2024 sale to Hilton and was recognized as "M&A Deal of the Year" by ALIS (ALIS, 2024). His earlier posts include finance, strategy, and development leadership at Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Marriott International, where he sharpened his expertise in capital allocation, renovation underwriting, and owner relations.
Hajek will sit on the investment committee, providing underwriting discipline that supports First Investors' ambition of surpassing $1 billion in assets under management.
Hajek holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree from Franklin Pierce University. In his free time, he enjoys motorcycling, golfing, and traveling.
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