CHICAGO, IL - Seniors housing industry veteran Jon DeLuca is joining Chicago-based Senior Lifestyle Corporation as president and chief executive officer, effective January 3. DeLuca, 48, comes from the post of co-president and chief financial officer at Horizon Bay Retirement Living, a seniors housing manager based in Tampa, Fla. In his new role he will oversee the day-to-day management and strategic direction of Senior Lifestyle and its portfolio of more than 80 properties. Chairman and former CEO William B. Kaplan, who founded Senior Lifestyle more than 20 years ago, will work with him on growth initiatives and strategic planning throughout the country.
"Jon has highest respect of his colleagues in the seniors housing industry. His financial and management experience will complement our senior management team, while his vision, energy and leadership skills will contribute to our continued growth," Kaplan said. "We welcome his depth of knowledge and exceptional track record as our company enters a period of dramatic expansion through strategic acquisitions and new development."
"The retirement of the baby-boom generation can only increase demand for seniors housing many years into the future," DeLuca added. "As president of Senior Lifestyle, I'll be in a position to bring the benefits of that increased demand to a company known for caring, hospitable communities and exemplary professional standards. It's a great opportunity at an ideal time."
Under DeLuca's leadership, Horizon Bay grew from 24 communities and 4,000 units in 2001 to 90 communities and 16,000 units currently. Previously, he served as chief financial officer for Allied Capital Corporation, a specialist in senior debt and mezzanine finance for small and mid-size companies. A graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington and a certified public accountant, he began his career at the accounting firm Coopers & Lybrand. Today he is a member of the Owner/Operator Advisory Board to the National Investment Center's Board of Directors and a frequent speaker at seniors housing industry conferences.
Senior Lifestyle's previous president, John Cobb, resigned last month to become senior vice president and chief investment officer of Ventas, a Chicago-based healthcare real estate investment trust.
Chicago-based Senior Lifestyle Corporation, founded in 1985, is a leader in the development, operation and ownership of seniors housing and the implementation of innovative programs that help seniors enjoy healthier, more fulfilling lives. With a portfolio of more than 70 communities, Senior Lifestyle offers independent living for every economic level, from luxury to mid-market to affordable. Daily services and activities are tailored to the needs and preferences of each community's residents. For residents who require additional care, many communities also offer assisted living and skilled nursing care. Long recognized among the industry's top companies by the American Seniors Housing Association, Senior Lifestyle was included as the 12th-largest owner of seniors communities on National Real Estate Investor's list of the top 50 companies in 2008.
Source: Senior Lifestyle Corporation