ATLANTA — Columbia Property Trust today announced the appointment of James A. Fleming to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer as part of the company’s strategic objective to drive long-term value.
Fleming will oversee the finance, treasury, investor relations, and financial reporting divisions of Columbia Property Trust, as well as manage all debt capital market activities, maintain relationships with rating agencies and financial institutions, and contribute to the strategic positioning of the company’s acquisitions, finance, and disposition plans. In this role, he will be instrumental in the company’s efforts to attract new institutional investment in Columbia Property Trust.
“We are pleased to welcome Jim Fleming to the management team of Columbia Property Trust,” said Nelson Mills, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Columbia Property Trust. “With his extensive background in real estate investment management, capital markets, and governance, as well as both executive and board experience for public companies, we believe Jim will play an integral role in positioning the company for a successful future.”
Fleming brings to Columbia Property Trust over three decades of commercial real estate experience, having served most recently as Executive Vice President and CFO for Schottenstein Property Group, a national shopping center owner-operator. Previously, at Cousins Properties, Inc., an NYSE-listed office REIT, Fleming served in various executive capacities, including as Executive Vice President and CFO from 2004 to 2010, and earlier, as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary from 2001 to 2004. Fleming currently serves on the Board of Directors of NASDAQ-listed Carmike Cinemas, Inc., one of the nation’s largest motion picture exhibitors.
Fleming is a former founding partner of the Atlanta law firm Fleming & Ray (now Ray & Sherman) and former managing partner at Long, Aldridge & Norman (now McKenna Long & Aldridge). Fleming’s practice at both firms focused on the real estate industry.
About Columbia Property Trust
One of the nation's largest office real estate investment trusts, Columbia Property Trust focuses on investing in and managing high-quality commercial office properties in primary markets nationwide and is one of the only nontraded REITs to have achieved an "investment-grade" rating from both Moody's and Standard & Poor's rating services. Currently, the REIT’s $5+ billion portfolio consists of 82 operational buildings in 20 states (including Washington, D.C.), collectively covering approximately 21 million square feet. Columbia Property Trust (f/k/a Wells Real Estate Investment Trust II, Inc.) closed to new investments on June 30, 2010. For information about Columbia Property Trust, visit www.ColumbiaPropertyTrust.com.
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