In July 2017, the candidate was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cousins Properties Inc. (NYSE: CUZ). From June 2009 to July 2017, he served as the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and prior to this period, he held the position of President and Chief Operating Officer. The candidate joined Cousins in 2005 following the acquisition of his firm, The Gellerstedt Group. During his tenure at Cousins, he has steered the company to focus on acquiring, developing and operating urban trophy office towers in high-growth Sunbelt markets while maintaining a conservative balance sheet. In 2016, he led the largest deal in Cousins history – the merger with Parkway Properties, Inc. and subsequent spin-off of the combined companies’ Houston-based assets into a separately traded REIT. From 2009 to 2017, the candidate led Cousins from an equity market cap of $665 million to over $3.8 billion. He began his career at Beers Construction Company (Beers) in 1978 as an estimator and project manager. Eight years later, the candidate became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Beers and led the company to annual revenues in excess of $1.2 billion and the company’s eventual sale to Skanska AB. He also has held positions as President and Chief Operating Officer of The Integral Group, recognized nationally for its visionary urban mixed-use development, and as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Business Products, a NYSE-listed manufacturer of packaging and printed office products. The candidate currently serves as an Independent Director of Georgia Power Company (NYSE: GPJA). He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Cousins Properties Inc. (NYSE: CUZ) buys, develops, and manages Class-A office properties mainly in high-growth markets in the Sunbelt region of the US. Its portfolio includes around 41 office properties with almost 20 million square feet of space in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, and Charlotte. While the REIT also owns a handful of retail centers and apartment complexes in Atlanta, it’s been winding those down to focus on prime office properties. Cousins Properties also provides property and construction management services and develops properties for third parties. Market Cap: $3.9 billion.

Candidate ID: 119986