Koll Promotes Yahr to No. 3 Executive

Koll Development Co. named Gerald O. Yahr as its No. 3 executive, promoting him to partner, executive vice president and corporate secretary of the Newport Beach commercial real estate firm.

Yahr, 45, an 11-year veteran at Koll, will work with Chairman and Chief Executive Donald Koll and President Richard Ortwein in directing the organization’s development and acquisition projects, the company said.

He will direct Koll’s expansion efforts across the country through strategic acquisitions and joint venture partnerships. He also will manage Koll’s financial affairs.

Most recently, Yahr served as executive vice president of Koll’s Western division, overseeing development and acquisition activities in California, Nevada and Colorado for about a year.

Before that, he was senior vice president of the company’s retail development operations, where he oversaw projects ranging from neighborhood shopping centers to the “de-malling” of antiquated regional malls.