San Diego-based ConAm Group, a Top 50 apartment manager, announced today that President Chaz Mueller had left the company to pursue an opportunity with the Irvine Company.
The company is bringing former senior vice president Rob Singh back as president and CIO, and promoting Robert J. Svatos, formerly its executive vice president and CFO, to president and COO.
Mueller, former president and COO at Archstone, landed at ConAm after the company had hired Korn Ferry to perform an executive search. Last May, he brought in former Archstone Senior Vice President George Lloyd as head of acquisitions, and planned to grow through acquisitions and development.
“I shopped eight to 10 properties in three markets to get a sense for the management,” Mueller told Multifamily Executive last year. “I had a really good experience across the board. I got a good feeling about the company. It is a well-capitalized private apartment company with a very strong track record over a long period of time.”
That Mueller would leave ConAm for Irvine isn’t a total surprise either, given the connection between Irvine and Archstone. Former Archstone Executive Vice President Dave Brackett ended up at Irvine and a number of observers expected former Archstone CEO Scot Sellers to eventually land at the real estate investment company and master planner. However, Sellers ended up joining activist investor Jonathan Litt’s proposed board for Associated Estates.
“We thank Chaz for his contributions to ConAm and wish him continued success as he moves to his new position,” said Dan Epstein, ConAm’s founder, in a press release.
New Leadership
“Rob had been instrumental in our business development and investment activities including sourcing new capital relationships and securing new property management assignments,” ,” said Epstein in the press release. “He contributed significantly to help us achieve our unmatched track record over the past two decades.”
Svatos also has a long track record at Con Am. “Bob’s financial skills and experiences throughout his 26-year career at ConAm make him ideally suited for this role,” Epstein added.
Epstein went on to say in the release that “as we begin our 40th year in business, I am more confident than ever with the makeup of our senior management and our prospects for continued success. Rob and Bob have worked together for many years and their combined talents, supported by our very capable senior executives and proven real estate team, will effectively continue our momentum, further enhancing our investment and property management operations, and provide strategic vision for the future.”
