---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-25-091234"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "RLJ"
cik: "0001511337"
company_name: "RLJ Lodging Trust"
filed_at: "2025-09-18T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-17T06:14:27.851932+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.5
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# RLJ Lodging Trust appoints Nikhil Bhalla as CFO, internal promotion

## Summary
- Nikhil Bhalla named CFO effective Sept 15, 2025; previously SVP Finance and Treasurer.
- Employment agreement provides $425k base salary, 75% target bonus, and equity awards.
- Term runs through Sept 15, 2029, with 12-month non-compete and non-solicit covenants.
- Leslie D. Hale ceases serving as interim principal financial officer.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-25-091234
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: RLJ
- cik: 0001511337
- company_name: RLJ Lodging Trust
- filed_at: 2025-09-18T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.5
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1511337/000110465925091234/0001104659-25-091234-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1511337/000110465925091234/tm2526402d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-25-091234
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-25-091234.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-25-091234.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.