Chief Executive Officer

Company Description

Our client is a 125-year-old family office transitioning toward a more commercial real estate-focused investment strategy. The company maintains a strong balance sheet with significant liquidity and no outstanding debt following recent divestitures.

Current holdings include approximately 44,000 acres of farmland and timberland, commercial real estate assets, an investment portfolio, and two operating businesses (farming and oil & gas) across south-central North Carolina and extending into South Carolina.

The organization is entering its next phase of evolution, focused on disciplined capital allocation, thoughtful portfolio optimization, and long-term enterprise value creation for shareholders.

Position Overview

Our client is seeking a disciplined, strategic, and value-oriented Chief Executive Officer to lead the company through its next phase of long-term growth and capital stewardship.  The CEO’s core mandate will be to establish and execute a comprehensive strategy to optimize the company’s existing diversified real estate and land portfolio for highest and best use. This includes evaluating current holdings, identifying monetization and repositioning opportunities, and implementing a multi-year plan to unlock embedded value while preserving balance sheet strength and liquidity.

While the CEO will oversee the full enterprise — including farmland, timberland, oil & gas interests, and an investment portfolio — the central focus of the role is thoughtful portfolio optimization, capital recycling, and long-term value realization across existing real assets.

The position will be based in Charlotte, Raleigh, or Central North Carolina.

• KEY PRIORITIES:
• Optimize Existing Real Estate for Highest and Best Use
• Conduct a comprehensive strategic review of all land and commercial real estate holdings.
• Determine highest and best use across near-, medium-, and long-term time horizons.
• Develop and execute a multi-year value creation and monetization strategy.
• Evaluate development, entitlement, powered land, assemblage, joint venture, leasing, and selective disposition opportunities.
• Sequence opportunities thoughtfully to balance risk, liquidity, and shareholder distribution objectives.
• Drive capital recycling initiatives, with particular emphasis on disciplined dispositions and reinvestment strategy.
• Grow Enterprise Value
• Drive appreciation across farmland, timberland, real estate, and energy holdings.
• Increase total enterprise value through disciplined capital allocation and portfolio optimization.
• Preserve a conservative balance sheet and maintain strong liquidity.
• Sustain and Grow Shareholder Distributions
• Partner with the Board within the first 6-12 months to establish a minimum distribution framework.
• Maintain a balanced philosophy between reinvestment and dividend growth.
• Ensure consistent, sustainable cash flow generation across asset classes.
•  Active Asset Management
• Farmland – Evaluate long-term strategy, operational structure and monetization alternatives.
• Timberland – Support management, drive strategic value, and pursue selective acquisitions or 1031 exchanges where appropriate.
• Oil and Gas – Monitor and maintain stable cash flow.
• Commercial Real Estate – Maintain existing stabilized assets, pursue leasing opportunities when necessary on rollovers or any new acquisitions, evaluate selective development opportunities, execute selective asset sales and reinvestment, and enhance highest and best use across holdings.
•  Governance & Leadership
• Serve as primary strategic partner to the Board.
• Prepare and lead proactive Board communications, meeting material, and follow-through.
• Oversee a $2.4 million foundation, including beneficiary selection and structured distribution planning.
• Foster a culture of disciplined investment decision-making, transparency, and long-term stewardship.

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Required Experience and Education

• The ideal candidate will bring:
• Proven experience managing diversified real asset or land-heavy portfolios.
• Strong capital allocation judgment and balance sheet discipline.
• Significant experience executing real estate dispositions and capital recycling strategies.
• Investment-oriented mindset with development and entitlement fluency (development experience preferred but not “merchant builder” focused).
• Expertise in land use optimization, structured transactions, and joint venture partnerships.
• Experience working closely with Boards and shareholder groups.
• Long-term strategic orientation with a stewardship mindset.
• Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Finance, or other Business related field.
• MBA preferred.