Jonathan Rose Cos. restructures leadership team

Manhattan, NY Jonathan Rose Companies has created three new positions on its leadership team. Nathan Taft has been promoted to chief investment officer, Caroline Vary to chief operating officer, and Chris Edwards to chief construction officer. Following several years of significant growth, Jonathan Rose Companies has undertaken an organizational structure review and has made strategic leadership changes to help position the company on a trajectory of continued growth. The restructuring of the leadership team will enable the company to build upon its decades-long work providing safe, sustainable, affordable housing that enriches the well-being of residents, communities, and the environment.

“Over the last several years, our firm has seen extraordinary growth, and we anticipate continued growth for many years to come,” said Jonathan Rose, president of Jonathan Rose Cos. “Our senior leadership team have all been with the firm for years, and our organizational design enhances our capacity to draw on their strengths.”

Taft will serve as the firm’s new chief investment officer, supporting the growth and value creation of Jonathan Rose Companies’ impact investment fund business. Taft, who has been with the firm for nearly 20 years and sits on the management, investment and risk committees, oversees all aspects of the company’s ongoing acquisition and preservation of affordable and mixed-income housing nationally. In this new role, he is leading the company’s strategic realignment of acquisitions, asset management, portfolio management, capital markets, investor relations and impact strategy within a single investment management vertical. Taft will focus on enhancing the integration of these teams that play a critical role in the investment and ownership cycle, and seek to generate outstanding results for residents and investors. In this dynamic economic environment, Taft will continue to oversee the team’s focus on developing proprietary “location intelligence” tools, market research and impact management systems to assess economic, social, environmental, regulatory and market conditions to guide investment, ownership and disposition decisions.

“I am pleased to serve as chief investment officer for Jonathan Rose Companies and lead a talented interdisciplinary team of professionals who are committed to preserving affordable, mixed-income housing for families and seniors across the country.  We look forward to sustained company-wide growth under the newly restructured leadership team,” said Taft.

Vary, a 16-year veteran of the firm, will become chief operating officer. In her new role, Vary will focus on the integration of the firm’s property-related functions, including the implementation of Jonathan Rose Companies’ brand promise–the way that the company physically and operationally expresses its values in its communities. She leads the firm’s property management company, Rose Community Management (RCM), and serves as the client for all Jonathan Rose Companies acquisitions and refurbishment work. Vary also oversees the company’s social and environmental Impact programming.

“At Jonathan Rose Companies, our goal is to ensure our communities are resilient, safe, and sustainable. As chief operating officer, I am happy to have the opportunity to lead an excellent team that works tirelessly to bring our company’s values to life,” said Vary.

The company has also named Chris Edwards its chief construction officer. Edwards, who has been with the firm for 13 years leading its construction group, works with project stakeholders to deliver high-quality new construction and rehabilitation projects. His team provides physical asset due diligence during acquisition, and implements capital improvement plans, including major greening projects. Edwards also leads Rose Community Builders (“RCB”), the company’s growing in-house construction firm, which specializes in renovating communities.

“Building affordable and environmentally sustainable housing is a core part of our firm’s mission, and my personal passion. I welcome the opportunity to serve as Chief Construction Officer and oversee our firm’s nationally renowned work building high quality, affordable, and green housing that enables communities to thrive,” said Edwards.