Crescent Communities Announces Leadership Transition; Jay Curran Named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (April 28, 2026): Crescent Communities, a nationally recognized, market-leading real estate investor, developer, and operator of mixed-use communities, today announced that Brian Natwick will resign as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 28, 2026. In alignment with its parent company, Sumitomo Forestry America, Jay Curran, currently President of Multifamily, has been appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Natwick will step down after more than 20 years with Crescent Communities, including five years as CEO. During his tenure, he played a key role in shaping the company’s growth, strengthening its culture, and expanding its platform across multifamily, commercial, and mixed-use development. Under his leadership, Crescent also launched new business lines, including its AXIAL industrial and THE YIELD life sciences platforms, and expanded its presence across key Sun Belt markets.
Curran brings deep experience and a strong understanding of the business and its operations, having joined Crescent Communities in 2013. Most recently, he has led the company’s multifamily and build-to-rent businesses, overseeing investment, development, and operations across many of the nation’s fastest-growing markets and helping scale the platform into a multibillion-dollar portfolio. He has also played an active role in the company’s broader strategic direction and built trusted relationships across employees, partners, and clients. His appointment reflects ownership’s confidence in his leadership and ensures continuity as the company moves forward.
“Crescent Communities is an exceptional organization built on a 60-year legacy of excellence, with a strong foundation and talented team,” said Curran. “I’m honored to step into this role and build on that legacy, while continuing to support our teams, strengthen our partnerships, and lead the company into its next phase of growth.”
The company’s leadership team, strategy, and day-to-day operations will remain consistent as part of the transition.
“We are confident that Jay is the right leader to guide the company forward,” said Yujiro Yoshizawa, President of Sumitomo Forestry America. “He brings a strong track record, deep knowledge of the business, and trusted relationships across the organization and with our partners, built over more than a decade with Crescent Communities. We look forward to working with him as the company continues to grow and build on its momentum.”
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About Crescent Communities:
Crescent Communities is a nationally recognized, market-leading real estate investor, developer, and operator of mixed-use “communities.” We specialize in place-making and create high-quality, differentiated multifamily and commercial developments in many of the fastest growing markets in the United States. Since 1963, our development portfolio has included more than 95 multifamily communities, 26 million square feet of commercial space and over 60 master planned communities. Crescent Communities has offices in Charlotte, DC, Atlanta, Orlando, Nashville, Dallas, Austin, Denver, and Phoenix. Our multifamily communities are branded NOVEL (urban), RENDER (suburban) and HARMON (build-to-rent) and our commercial developments are branded AXIAL (industrial), THE YIELD (life science) and BOWER (office).
