Choice Hotels International appointed Ali Keshavarz, President and Chief Data & Analytics Officer of CVS Health, to its board of directors, the company announced today. The move adds deep artificial intelligence and analytics expertise to the governance of one of the world's largest lodging franchisors as it pursues a technology-driven growth strategy.
The boardroom gets an AI practitioner
"Ali is a highly accomplished leader whose experience and expertise in artificial intelligence will further strengthen our Board as we advance Choice Hotels International's long-term growth strategy and continue creating value for our franchise owners, guests, and shareholders," said Stewart Bainum Jr., chairman of the Choice Hotels International Board of Directors.
Choice Hotels is signaling that AI for Executives & Strategy belongs at the governance table, not just in operating plans. Corporate boards often recruit former CEOs or financial experts. Keshavarz brings something different: hands-on experience building enterprise-wide AI and data strategies at scale.
From insurance analytics to a hotel franchise board
Keshavarz leads enterprise data and analytics strategy at CVS Health, which manages one of the largest healthcare datasets in the U.S. He previously served as chief analytics officer for Aetna and CVS Caremark, and spent more than a decade at McKinsey, where he co-founded the firm's healthcare analytics practice. He holds an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and a B.A. in mathematics and economics from Northwestern University.
"We look forward to benefiting from his unique perspective as we continue to drive growth, improve unit economics for our hotel owners, and leverage the power of AI across the business," said Dominic Dragisich, interim chief executive officer of Choice Hotels International.
In the hospitality sector, AI for Hospitality & Events is beginning to reshape everything from dynamic pricing to housekeeping logistics, and having a director steeped in data gives Choice an edge in turning analytics into operational gains.
Why this matters for executives and strategy
The appointment underscores a structural shift: AI literacy is becoming a boardroom requirement, especially for asset-light franchise models where unit economics hinge on data-driven efficiency. Keshavarz's deep analytics background signals that the ability to connect data strategy to business outcomes now ranks alongside traditional governance qualifications. Directors who can ask the right questions about model risk, data integrity, and scaling AI are no longer optional-they are a competitive necessity.
Your membership also unlocks:
