AREP Names API Prez/CEO

American Real Estate Partners, Mount Kisco, N.Y., has appointed Keith Meister president and chief executive officer of American Property Investors, its general partner, replacing Albo J. Antenucci Jr. in the position.Mr. Antenucci resigned the post effective Aug. 15, but he will act as a consultant to AREP for approximately nine months, the company said. Mr. Meister will continue in his present position as senior investment analyst of High River LP, a company owned by API chairman Carl C. Icahn, AREP said. AREP, a commercial real estate investor and manager, recently reported that net earnings for the quarter ended June 30 decreased by $18.6 million from that of a year earlier, primarily due to a writedown of mortgages and notes receivable ($18.8 million), decreased interest income ($9.2 million), and decreased earnings from land, house, and condominium operations ($3.8 million).