Jay L. Johnson joined Lamar Advertising Company as chief financial officer in October 2019 and is responsible for all financial aspects of the company. Previously, Mr. Johnson was executive vice president and chief financial officer of DiamondRock Hospitality Company, a publicly-traded real estate investment trust (REIT) formed by Marriott International and headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Prior to DiamondRock, Mr. Johnson served as senior vice president and treasurer of Host Hotels & Resorts, an S&P 500 company and the largest lodging REIT. As a member of the senior management team, he was responsible for the company’s financing activities globally and completed over $14 billion in debt and equity capital transactions in 12 countries.
Mr. Johnson is a member of the board of directors at two S&P 500 companies – Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL), a global consumer goods company with well-known brands including Rubbermaid, Coleman, Graco, Paper Mate and Sharpie, as well as SBA Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: SBAC), an owner and operator of wireless communications infrastructure in North and South America, Africa and the Philippines.
Mr. Johnson received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in economics from Morehouse College. A native of Bastrop, Mr. Johnson is also a graduate of the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts in Natchitoches. He and his wife, Erica, reside in Baton Rouge and have two daughters, Katherine and Caroline.