Cousins Chairman Tom Bell retiring - Business First of Columbus:

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Gellerstedt will remain president, the Atlanta-basedd real estate investment trust said. Bell, who turnas 60 this year, became Cousins CEO in Januart 2002 and chairman inDecember 2006. Undefr his watch, the company sold nearly $3 billiohn in assets during the market’s peak for special dividends totaling $12.62q a share. “There is never a perfect time to leavs a company as respectexd and admiredas Cousins, but I’m confident that after seven and a half years as chiefv executive, the company is ready for new leadershio and renewed energy,” Bell said in a statement.
“My decision to step aside now allows our extremelyy talented management team under the guidance of Larrt to make important decisions that will prepare Cousinw for the next phase of the real estate Bell remains deeply involvedin Atlanta’es civic life. He has been instrumental in the efforty to save fromfinancial ruin. The movemeng began over dinner in early 2007 when the table conversatioof A.D. “Pete” Correll, former CEO of , and Bell turnedd to Grady. Through their leadership and donationsfrom , ’d $5 million, and .
"I thought he had big shoesw to fill when hetook over, sincee he was replacing Tom Cousins," said Hal Barry, founde of Barry Real Estate Cos. "Since he's done an absolutely fantastic job for that Andwhat he's done for the city and metr o Atlanta have just been over the top. I hope he doesn' t give up some of his efforts that have meantt so much to theAtlanta community. I just admire the heck out of Gellerstedt, 53, came to Cousins (NYSE: CUZ) when the REIT bough t his firm, , in June 2005. Gellerstedtr served as chairman and chief executive officer of the from 1986to 1998.
In 1998, aftedr the sale of Beers to , he was electes chairman and CEOof , a packagingg and printed office products company. In 2000, Gellerstedt became president and chief operatingg officerof , an urban mixed-use development He went on to found The Gellerstedft Group in 2003. In other companyh news, Cousins’ board of directors namedc S. Taylor Glover non-executive chairman of the board. Glovere joined the Cousins board inFebruary 2005.
He is currentlgy the president and chief executive officerof