RLJ Acquisition Management Team

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Robert L. Johnson
Chairman, RLJ Acquisition

Prior to forming The RLJ Companies, Mr. Johnson was founder and chairman of Black Entertainment Television (BET), the nation’s first and leading television network targeting an African American audience

  • Under Mr. Johnson’s leadership, BET became the first African American-owned company publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange
  • In 2001, Mr. Johnson sold BET to Viacom for approximately $3 billion and remained the Chief Executive Officer through 2006

In July 2007, Johnson was named by USA Today as one of the “25 Most Influential Business Leaders of the Past 25 Years.”

Mr. Johnson currently serves on the following boards:

  • KB Home
  • Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
  • Strayer Education
  • NBA Board of Governors
  • Deutsche Bank Advisory Committee
  • The Business Council
  • Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture


H. Van Sinclair
President & Chief Executive Officer, RLJ Acquisition

As president, Mr. Sinclair is responsible for the strategic direction of The RLJ Companies, including overall portfolio management, as well as day-to-day, operational oversight for the highly diversified businesses

  • Mr. Sinclair also serves as the Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs for the RLJ Urban Lodging Funds and for RLJ Development, which is the RLJ Companies’ international hotel and hospitality company
  • Mr. Sinclair, formerly a practicing attorney, spent 28 years with the Washington, D.C. and New York law firm of Arent Fox, PLLC
  • Mr. Sinclair provided counsel to a wide variety of business entities and individuals, in the media, technology, banking, real estate and construction industries
  • Mr. Sinclair remains Of Counsel to Arent Fox
  • Prior to joining The RLJ Companies, Mr. Sinclair, represented Robert L. Johnson and Black Entertainment Television (BET) for many years, culminating in the sale of BET to Viacom Inc. in 2001

Mr. Sinclair currently serves on the following boards:

  • ERC Holdings, Inc.
  • RLJ McLarty Landers Automotive Holdings, LLC


Lisa W. Pickrum
Chief Financial Officer, RLJ Acquisition

As COO, Ms. Pickrum is responsible for managing The RLJ Companies portfolio, including strategic partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, business strategy, operations and finance

  • Prior to joining The RLJ Companies, Ms. Pickrum was a Principal at Katalyst Venture Partners, a tech and media-driven private equity firm from 1999 to 2003
  • From 1998 to 1999, Ms. Pickrum worked as a senior consultant for Accenture
  • Ms. Pickrum is frequently a keynote speaker at international events promoting media and entertainment and minority-related opportunities

Recent Accolades and Awards:

  • “100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry” – Automotive News
  • “75 Most Powerful Women in Business” – Black Enterprise
  • “Most Powerful Players under 40” – Black Enterprise
  • “Top 50 Women of Power in Business” – Black Enterprise
  • One of the Nation’s “Business Leaders” – UPSCALE
  • “Power List” for Women in Business – ESSENCE