Robert L. Johnson founded The RLJ Companies in 2002 in Bethesda, Maryland.[7][8] Johnson serves as chairman of the company.[4] Previous to founding The RLJ Companies, Johnson owned BET, which he sold to Viacom in 2001.[12] He remained on at BET as its CEO through 2006.[4]
In 2001, Johnson and Tom Baltimore started RLJ Lodging Trust with six hotels.[13] RLJ Lodging Trust started as RLJ Development and changed its name when it went public on the New York Stock Exchange under RLJ on May 13, 2011.[14][15] The company operates in 21 states with 97 hotels under global brands including Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, Hyatt Place and Embassy Suites Hotels.[16][17] In 2008, RLJ Companies formed a partnership with Global Building Solutions to build a 78-room luxury resort and spa in Monrovia, Liberia.[7] The RLJ Kendeja Resort & Villas opened in March 2009. Thomas J. Baltimore Jr. served as president and CEO of RLJ Lodging Trust until his resignation on April 27, 2016, so that he could assume a similar role with Hilton's REIT. Ross H. Bierkan was appointed CEO on August 1, 2016.[18]
David Rubenstein and Johnson partnered with Carlyle Group in 2006 to form RLJ Equity Partners, a middle-market equity firm.[13][19] RLJ Equity Partners invested in CVC [pt], the largest tour operator in Latin America, in January 2010.[20] In September 2010, it partnered with Enhanced Recovery Corp to gain more presence in the Southeast.[21] It has also invested in Fleischmann's Vinegar, LAI International, TMone, Naylor and R. Thompson Trucking Inc.[21][22][23][24]
In 2014, RLJ Equity Partners acquired Naylor Association Solutions, with its headquarters in Gainesville, Florida.
Johnson collaborated with Mack McLarty and Steve Landers to create RLJ-McLarty-Landers Automotive Holdings, LLC in 2007.[25] It is the parent company for Little Rock, Arkansas based RML Automotive.[26] Johnson holds 60% of RLJ-McLarty-Landers Automotive Holdings, LLC, making it the largest minority-owned automotive dealership in the country.[13]
In response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Global Building Solutions collaborated with RLJ Companies to form Caribbean Opportunity Holdings in April 2010.[27]
Trading under NASDAQ as RLJAU, RLJ Acquisition was formed as a special-purpose acquisition company in December 2010 with the purpose of consummating business combinations.[28][29] H. Van Sinclair serves as CEO.[28]
^Michael A. Fletcher (December 18, 2012). "BET founder offers plan to cut racial disparity in hiring; BET founder says Obama should ask firms to interview black candidates for top jobs to cut unemployment gap". WashingtonPost.com.
^ abDave McNary (October 3, 2012). "RLJ completes distribution acquisition; Company's purchase of Image Ent., Acorn Media creates new digital distrib". Daily Variety.
^Arlena Sawyers (May 7, 2012). "Johnson: Power in partnerships". Vol. 86, no. 6515. Automotive News.
^Mary Kathleen Flynn (March 1, 2012). "The RLJ Rule; BET founder Robert L. Johnson urges companies to seek minority candidates for executive openings". Vol. 47, no. 3. Mergers & Acquisitions.
^Dana Hedgpeth (January 8, 2010). "Carlyle acquires Brazilian tour operator; $250 million CVC deal advances D.C. firm's overseas growth plans". The Washington Post.
^ abJonathan Marino (September 20, 2010). "RLJ Teams With Enhanced Recovery". Vol. 23, no. 38. Mergers & Acquisitions Report.
