As previously disclosed by the Company on July 25, 2024, W. Michael Murphy, a director of Ashford Inc., passed away on July 24, 2024 leaving a vacancy on the Board. Mr. Murphy was the Seller Nominee of Mr. Archie Bennett, Jr. Accordingly, Mr. Archie Bennett, Jr. has nominated Mark A. Sharkey, PhD, as the successor to Mr. Murphy as his Seller Nominee to fill the vacancy on the Board. Upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, the Board appointed Mr. Sharkey as a director of the Company on October 15, 2024 to fill the vacancy on the Board and to serve as the Seller Nominee of Mr. Archie Bennett, Jr., to serve until the Company?s next annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor is duly elected and qualified.

Mr. Sharkey has not been appointed to any committee of the Board. Mr. Sharkey, age 64, is currently Executive in Residence, Daniels School of Business, Executive PhD program at the University of Denver. From 1993 to April 2018, he served in various roles of increasing responsibility at Remington Lodging & Hospitality, LLC (?Remington?), a subsidiary of the Company, including most recently as President and as Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director.

Following his retirement from Remington in April 2018, Mr. Sharkey has continued to serve Remington as a consultant. Mr. Sharkey served as a member of the Hilton Owners Advisory Council, the Embassy Suites Owners Advisory Council, and has been a board member of ASFONA Inc. since 2013. Prior to joining Remington in 1993, Mr. Sharkey was Regional Manager and Director of New Openings with La Quinta Inc. Mr. Sharkey earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration degree with a concentration in Hospitality Management from Michigan State University and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Denver.

In 2021, Mr. Sharkey earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree with a concentration in Leadership and Management from the University of Denver. Mr. Sharkey has served in the hospitality industry for over 40 years, operating and developing a range of select, full-service and luxury hotels.