The board of directors of CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (NYSE: CBL), announced that Farzana Mitchell has succeeded John Foy as chief financial officer. Mr. Foy will remain in the near term as executive vice chairman "to provide continuity through this important transition," it was stated.
In addition, the board announced that Katie Reinsmidt has been promoted to the new position of senior vice president – investor relations and corporate investments.
Mr. Foy commented, “I am proud to have played a key role in the growth of CBL over the years. Farzana and I have led the company’s financing activities since she joined CBL 12 years ago, and I have always been impressed by her insight and creativity. I am confident that with her expert guidance, CBL will continue to achieve great success.”
“We are pleased to recognize Farzana’s leadership, work-ethic and vision with this promotion to chief financial officer,” said Stephen Lebovitz, president & chief executive officer. “Farzana and John have worked together to execute the company’s financial strategy and we are certain that her expertise will prove to be valuable going forward. Since joining CBL in 2000, Farzana’s business acumen and deep financial knowledge have been an important resource as most recently exemplified by the formation of the TIAA-CREF joint venture relationship. We are certain that Farzana will make significant contributions to CBL’s ongoing success. CBL has a very bright future and we are confident that we have strong and capable leadership in place to guide our financial growth.”
Mr. Lebovitz added, “We are also excited to promote Katie to senior vice president – investor relations and corporate Investments. Since joining the company in 2004, Katie has assumed progressive levels of responsibility, becoming a key contributor in CBL’s major transactional and capital markets activity. She is very well-respected throughout Wall Street, and we are pleased to recognize her many accomplishments with this promotion.”
“I would like to extend our gratitude to John for his many years of commitment to our company’s success as its CFO,” said Charles B. Lebovitz, chairman. “Throughout his more than 40 years with CBL and its predecessor company, John’s ingenuity and creative mind have shaped the growth experienced over this time. We are pleased that CBL will continue to benefit from John’s know-how as executive vice chairman.”
Ms. Mitchell joined CBL in September 2000 as senior vice president – finance and was promoted to executive vice president – finance in January 2010. Prior to joining the company, Ms. Mitchell spent 18 years at Equitable Real Estate and its predecessor in various senior financial positions. From 1976 to 1982, she held the position of assistant treasurer of IRT Properties Company, a former REIT. She serves on the board of commissioners and finance committee of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority. She is a certified public accountant, licensed in the state of Georgia.
Ms. Reinsmidt joined CBL in 2004 as director of investor relations and was promoted to director – corporate communications and investor relations in 2008 and to vice president – corporate communications and investor relations in 2010. Prior to joining CBL, she served as associate analyst at A.G. Edwards & Sons at its corporate headquarters in St. Louis, where she provided research coverage for retail, healthcare and lodging REITs. Ms. Reinsmidt also serves as a trustee for the city of Chattanooga General Pension Board.