Caruso Affiliated Appoints Judy Johnson As Chief Marketing And Communications Officer

LOS ANGELES, March 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Caruso Affiliated, one of the largest, privately held real estate companies in the U.S., announced today the appointment of Judy Johnson as chief marketing and communications officer, a newly created role that will support Caruso Affiliated's strategically expanding portfolio of projects throughout California. Effective April 14, 2014, Johnson will report to Chief Executive Officer Rick J. Caruso, and in her role, she will oversee all areas of the organization's strong marketing, public relations, strategic alliances, and entertainment initiatives.

"Caruso Affiliated's tremendous growth – 20% compounded annually – has placed us ahead of our competition. We have robust acquisition and development plans and are excited about the future," stated Rick J. Caruso. "To manage this exceptional growth, and as part of our aggressive five-year plan to double the size of our company, we are bringing Judy aboard to keep us at the forefront of the industry as retail evolves. The position of Chief Marketing and Communications Officer is critical, and with Judy's strong track record of positioning major brands in an increasingly cluttered marketplace, I know she will add value to our organization very quickly."

The appointment comes at a significant juncture in the evolution of Caruso Affiliated, which is best known for its first-class retail, dining and entertainment centers, such as The Grove and The Americana at Brand in Southern California. While reimagining street-front retail property in Brentwood, Calif., and in Pacific Palisades, Calif., (Swarthmore Avenue), the company is also currently spearheading one of the largest retail developments in Carlsbad, Calif., amongst several other retail projects in the works. On the hospitality side, Caruso Affiliated is in the planning stages of The Miramar Beach Resort and Bungalows, its first luxury resort property, located in Montecito, Calif., and looks to develop more high-rise mixed-use in Los Angeles along the lines of its upscale residential property, 8500 Burton Way, which is currently achieving the highest rents on the West Coast.

"I am thrilled to embark on a new journey at Caruso Affiliated and help the company soar to new heights while enhancing its reputation for extraordinary quality, memorable experiences, and best-in-class service," said Johnson. "Rick's vision is truly remarkable, as is his masterful development execution and spot-on instinct for creating differentiated community hubs that invite people in to socialize, dine, shop and live. Rick has changed the landscape of Los Angeles in significant ways, and I look forward to helping him continue to make an even bigger impact in more communities through exciting new developments now underway."

Johnson comes to Caruso Affiliated after 17 years with GolinHarris, a leading global, full-service communications firm. Most recently, she served as president of operations west of its Chicago headquarters, managing staff, senior client accounts, business development and operations for offices in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Francisco. She also served on the company's global management team and helped lead a number of company-wide initiatives, including serving its g4 transformation team, which was on the forefront of the PR industry's evolution into integrated marketing. While at GolinHarris, Johnson defined and managed award-winning, 360-degree brand campaigns across paid, earned, owned, and shared channels. Some of her most prominent clients included Amazon, Cold Stone Creamery, Cunard Line, Disney, Disneyland and Downtown Disney, Farmer John, Forest City Development, Las Vegas Sands Corporation, McDonald's, The Ritz-Carlton, and Toyota, among others.

A 30-year veteran of the communications and marketing industry, Johnson was honored as PR Professional of the Year by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Los Angeles Chapter in 2012. She serves as an adjunct professor at USC's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and is a frequent industry and college speaker on consumer branding and marketing, corporate communications, and crisis management.

About Caruso Affiliated
Caruso Affiliated is one of the largest, privately held real estate development companies in the U.S. All of its properties are distinguished by a unique combination of architectural and design excellence, unparalleled guest experiences and a dedication to serving the local community – transforming them into central gathering places for residents and tourists alike. Its premier retail, residential and mixed-use properties welcome millions of people annually, including The Grove, which attracts more guests per year than Disneyland. Two properties, The Grove and The Americana at Brand, rank in Shopping Center Today's list of the top-15 shopping centers around the world, based on sales per square foot, which are 75% above the industry norm. Average consumer expenditures at Caruso properties nearly double those at regional malls, and sales growth is nearly three times that of traditional malls.

In addition to The Grove and The Americana at Brand, and the upscale residential 8500 Burton Way, Caruso Affiliated develops, owns and manages a growing portfolio of world-class properties. Currently spearheading one of the largest retail developments in Carlsbad, Calif., expected to generate $80 million annually in new taxes for state and local governments, as well as 11,000 construction jobs and 8,000 permanent jobs, Caruso Affiliated has an array of other projects in development, including those in Pacific Palisades and Brentwood, Calif. The company is also in the planning stages of The Miramar Beach Resort and Bungalows, its first luxury resort property, located in Montecito, Calif., to break ground in 2015. For more information, visit www.CarusoAffiliated.com.

SOURCE Caruso Affiliated