Highwoods Names New Prez

Ed Fritsch, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Highwoods Properties Inc., has been named president as part a management shuffle at the Raleigh, N.C.-based real estate investment trust.In addition, Carman Liuzzo has been promoted from vice president and chief financial officer to the newly created post of vice president of investments and strategic analysis, the REIT said. The vacated CFO post will be filled by Terry Stevens, now the executive vice president and CFO of Crown American Realty Trust, after the completion of a proposed merger of Crown American and the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust. Mr. Fritsch, a member of the Highwoods board of directors, joined the company in 1982. He will retain the title of COO and will be responsible for the REIT's day-to-day operations. As president, he replaces Ron Gibson, who will retain the post of chief executive officer. Highwoods can be found on the Web at http://www.highwoods.com.