After significant growth in 2024 and a robust pipeline, Landmark Properties, a fully integrated real estate firm based in Athens, Georgia, has bolstered its leadership with a focus on the future.
Wes Rogers, formerly president and CEO, remains CEO while adding the newly created chairman role, while four additional C-level leaders have been announced.
“Our exponential growth combined with the ever-evolving commercial real estate landscape demanded that we expand our executive team, allowing me to focus on the strategic direction of the firm as we explore and expand in new verticals,” said Rogers. “This is certainly not me stepping away from the business in any way whatsoever, but rather us changing job titles to better reflect everyone’s roles. I am very fortunate to be surrounding with hardworking, intelligent professionals, and that has given me the opportunity to concentrate my efforts on the broader picture moving forward.”
Formerly head of investment management, Walt Templin has become president and chief investment officer. He oversees all aspects of the firm’s investment strategy, including acquisitions, dispositions, and capital markets activities. In addition, he works with the firm’s leadership team on continued growth in the student housing and build-to-rent (BTR) sectors in the United States. He will also work on the firm’s expansion into the student housing markets in the United Kingdom and Europe as well as traditional multifamily.
Formerly executive managing director of development, Jason Doornbos has been named chief development officer. He leads strategic development, land acquisition, project planning, and investment oversight.
Art Templin, formerly executive managing director of development and construction, has been elevated to chief operating officer, development and construction, being responsible for the full-cycle execution of new development opportunities across the vertically integrated platform.
Porter McDonald has been promoted to executive managing director of investment and focuses on acquisitions, dispositions, and driving growth-maximizing portfolio returns.
“This group is a sampling of the exceptional leaders who have been an integral part of Landmark’s success over the last decade,” added Rogers. “They have been instrumental in the growth of the Landmark platform with a proven track record of excellence. I continue to be impressed by this group’s consistent work ethic, intelligence, moral fabric, leadership abilities, deep understanding of the complexities of our vertically integrated business, execution capabilities, and ability to create value for Landmark and our investors.”
In addition, Nikko Politis joined Landmark earlier in the year as senior director of multifamily acquisitions, leading Landmark’s investment activities focusing on stabilized and value-add acquisitions across the traditional multifamily landscape.
These moves come after a strong 2024 for the firm. Landmark increased its assets under management to $15 billion last year through strategic acquisitions and new developments and achieved $3 billion in transaction volume. It also expanded its footprint to the U.K. and European markets with the opening of a London office and a dedicated team focused on development and acquisitions.
Landmark’s portfolio comprises over 115 residential communities with 72,000 beds under management across the nation. Looking ahead, it has an active development pipeline with over 50 student and multifamily developments under construction or near term start with an estimated value of over $10 billion.
The firm, which ranked No. 1 on Student Housing Business’ top 25 developers of student housing list for 2025, has over 58,000 beds planned for delivery between now and fall 2028.
It has made several moves on the student housing front so far in 2025. It kicked off the year with the acquisition of a development site in Fort Collins, Colorado, where it plans to build The Mark Fort Collins, a 397-bed community near Colorado State University in partnership with Silverpeak Real Estate Partners and Peninsula Investments. In March, it also partnered with Peninsula Investments to acquire a site in Storrs, Connecticut, adjacent to the University of Connecticut’s main campus. It plans to begin construction on The Mark Mansfield, a 738-bed student housing community, late this year.
At the start of April, the firm broke ground on The Standard at West Lafayette, a 678-bed student housing community in West Lafayette, Indiana, adjacent to Purdue University. The community, which is the fourth development in a build-to-core joint venture with Manulife Investment Management, is set to deliver for the 2027 academic year. Peninsula Investments also is a partner on the new community.
