REITs and the Women who serve on their Board of Directors
Women Directors Driving Diversity and Excellence in REIT Corporate Leadership
Women are playing an integral role on REIT corporate boards today as awareness and appreciation of the benefits their presence can make to a company’s overall success continues to gain traction. In a recent NAREIT report entitled: REIT Boards Enriched by Contributions of Female Directors, the industry will be poised for continued progress in years to come due to the rising number of women in executive and C-suite roles and because of the growing interest among women to hold board seats. Below are some of these insights and biographies from key women BOD directors for various REITs: Christie Kelly, who sits on the boards of Kite Realty Group Trust, Park Hotels & Resorts Inc. and who previously served as EVP, CFO and treasurer at Realty Income Corp. "Women have momentum now, and there is a growing awareness that the best representation of the company begins with the benefits of a diverse board." She indicated that women bring these benefits: * true diversity of thought, skillsets, and experience * more women on a board attracts a broader talent pool and telegraphs the mindset of its leadership * women leaders have a particular interest and expertise in issues that fall under governance * have an ability to find the cultural match of the boardroom * bring a true passion and respect for the company’s business
Nori Gerardo Lietz – Board Director – Mack-Cali Realty Trust, now Veris Residential, Inc.
She joined the restructured board in 2020 and is also a lecturer at the Harvard Business School and has been a prominent voice on the slow but steady growth of women in REIT leadership. Maria Hawthorne - Board Director - Essex Property Trust
She has said in the past: “if you were to ask me ‘when is the best time to be a woman in business?’ Then I would have to say today. Each year, the industry will be able to look more potential board of director opportunities, and that’s not something that would’ve happened 25 years ago.”
Candace K. Beinecke - Independent Trustee – Vornado Realty Trust
Candace Beinecke is Senior Counsel of Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP. She served as Chair of the firm from 1999 to 2016 and was the first woman to chair a major New York law firm. In addition to her role as Lead Independent Trustee of Vornado Realty Trust, Candace serves as Chairperson of First Eagle Funds, a public U.S. mutual fund family. Ms. Beinecke is a practicing attorney in Hughes Hubbard’s Corporate Department, known for her corporate governance and M&A expertise.
Valerie Richardson - Director - KIMCO Realty Trust, and CEO of ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers)
