CoStar's People of Note (July 25-31)

This week's People of Note includes the following markets: Atlanta, Chicago, National, New York City, Phoenix and Portland.

NATIONAL
Former Brookfield Pres. Named CFO at General Growth

Steven J. Douglas, the former president of Brookfield Properties, was named executive vice president and chief financial officer/director of accounting and finance at General Growth Properties. He will head the firm’s finance operations as it emerges from Chapter 11 protection. Brookfield is a principal shareholder of General Growth.

"His financial expertise and industry experience make him well qualified to lead GGP's finance operations as we enter a new stage in the company's history. We are nearing completion of our restructuring and emergence process and adding Steve to our team further enhances our position for long-term success," Adam Metz, CEO of GGP, said in a statement.

He takes over for Ed Hoyt who was GGP’s interim CFO for the past two years. Hoyt will continue as senior vice president and chief accounting officer.

Douglas served more than 16 years at Brookfield in a variety of executive positions, which include: senior managing partner at Brookfield Asset Management, CFO of Falconbridge Ltd., seven years as CFO of Brookfield Properties which eventually led to the position of president in 2009. The position will remain open for the near future. More

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Editor's Note: CoStar's People of Note is published each Friday covering the latest commercial real estate executive level promotions and new hires. Please click on the headline of each article to jump to full coverage.

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CHICAGO
CBRE Adds Financial Manager to Tenant Rep Group

CB Richard Ellis Group tapped Brian Scruggs to head its tenant representation financial consulting group in Chicago.

With more than a decade in the industry, Scruggs’ expertise includes acquisitions, leasing, financial analysis and asset management. Before joining CBRE, he was AMB Property’s vice president of acquisitions and oversaw the purchase of more than $480 million in industrial assets totaling more than 7.2 million square feet. He’s also used his investment analysis skills while serving at First Industrial Realty Trust, ProLogis, RREEF and Grubb & Ellis. Scruggs studied engineering at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.

“Adding an executive of Brian’s stature and track record is a major win for our tenant representation practice,” said Chris Connelly, senior managing director, CBRE. “Occupiers are increasingly turning to us for strategic insight on space reduction, relocation alternatives and cost savings. Brian enhances our ability to produce in-depth financial modeling for them, which is unmatched in the industry.”


ATLANTA
Land Specialist Joins Bull Realty

Bull Realty in Atlanta recruited 23-year veteran Leigh Furrh as vice president in its land division.

Furrh specializes in the sale of residential, mixed-use and commercial development land in the suburbs of Atlanta. His deals of note include Monarch Village’s 400-acre parcel in Stockbridge and the tract for Westridge’s 700-acre mixed-use project in McDonough.

The broker started his career at Property Systems Land Corp., was a principal with LandSell Realty and a partner with Pointe Property Group before joining Bull.

Furrh is a 15-time member of Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors’ Million Dollar Club. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi.


NEW YORK CITY
Eynon Returns to CB Richard Ellis
By Andrew Sears

Steve Eynon has joined CB Richard Ellis' midtown Manhattan office as a senior vice president.

Eynon will focus on tenant and landlord representation. He returns to CBRE following a stint with Jones Lang LaSalle. He previously served as director of leasing for the Empire State Building, handling more than 500,000 square feet in transactions at the iconic skyscraper - an aggregate of $300 million in rent value.

Eynon is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY). He is a graduate of Lehigh University.


ATLANTA
Heitman Hires New SVP
By Ryan Deutsch

William "Alan" Purser joined Heitman LLC in Atlanta as a senior vice president. He will be responsible for institutional client service and marketing.

Purser previously managed client relationships and fundraising for RREEF/Deutsche Bank and Buchanan Street Partners. He has 14 years of experience in business strategy and institutional sales and marketing.

He earned bachelor’s degrees from North Carolina State University and the University of California at Berkeley. Purser is a member of PREA, NAIOP, ULI and ICSC, and holds his Series 7 and 63 FINRA licensing.


PHOENIX
Churney Joins Executive Ranks of Johnson Capital
By Yvonne Pacheco

Neal Churney, CCIM joined Johnson Capital as senior vice president. He has extensive experience in underwriting and analyzing loans across all major commercial property types. Churney has originated permanent commercial loans for real estate investment and owner-user properties, as well as bridge loans for land acquisition, development and construction.

Prior to joining Johnson Capital, Churney was a director with Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp. in its Phoenix office, where he financed multifamily, office, industrial and retail properties.


NEW YORK CITY
L & L Holding Co. Welcomes Ramsey
By Esther Prince

L & L Holding Co. LLC hired Craig J. Ramsey as managing director of investor coverage.

Ramsey was formerly the managing director at Deutsche Bank, where he handled the firm’s real estate private equity capital raising business. He also headed the asset management group at The Praedium Group, where he was a director.

Ramsey is a graduate of Boston University and earned his M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.


PORTLAND
Norris & Stevens Announces New SVP
By Noel Bigay

Norris & Stevens/TCN Worldwide has named Timothy S. Mitchell senior vice president, director of sales and leasing. Mitchell will oversee the firm's commercial sales and leasing activities in its Portland headquarters.

Mitchell has more than 23 years of industry experience. Most recently, he was with Harsh Investment Properties LLC. Throughout his 10-year tenure, Mitchell completed over 150 acquisitions and dispositions, totaling nearly $2 billion. He has handled all investment product types including office, retail, industrial, R&D, multifamily, hospitality and development land.

Mitchell earned his B.S. from the University of Utah, and is a member of ICSC and ULI.


Send your People of Note to News@CoStar.com.