Acadia Realty Trust Appoints David Buell as New Chief Accounting Officer
Acadia Realty Trust announced that David Buell will join the company in January 2026 as its new Chief Accounting Officer succeeding Richard Hartmann. Hartmann, who has been with Acadia Realty Trust since 1997 and has served as Chief Accounting Officer since 2012, will remain with the company to support the transition and will assume a new role as Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives. Prior to this, Buell was a Senior Manager in KPMG's audit practice, serving clients across multiple industries with a focus on real estate.
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- Executive Promotions: Acadia Realty Trust has promoted AJ Levine to EVP of Leasing and Development, adding oversight of property management and marketing, reflecting the company's recognition of his leadership since joining in 2019 as SVP.
- Financial Reporting Leadership: Erica Pipitone has been elevated to VP of Financial Reporting, overseeing SEC filings and technical accounting, having joined in 2020 as Director, indicating the company's commitment to financial transparency and compliance.
- Executive Retirement: Joseph Napolitano will retire around April 1, 2026, after 31 years of service, marking a significant leadership transition since he has been part of the senior leadership team since 2007.
- Strategic Adjustments: These executive changes reflect Acadia Realty Trust's strategic intent to continuously optimize its management team and enhance operational efficiency, aiming to lay a solid foundation for future growth.
- Executive Promotions: Acadia Realty Trust has promoted AJ Levine to Executive Vice President of Leasing and Development, where he will continue to drive internal growth strategies while enhancing leadership over property management and marketing teams.
- Financial Reporting Leadership: Erica Pipitone has been elevated to Vice President of Financial Reporting, overseeing the company's financial reporting activities, including SEC compliance, reflecting her progressive advancement within the accounting team since joining in 2020.
- Executive Retirement: Joseph Napolitano has notified the company of his intention to retire on April 1, 2026, concluding a 31-year career with Acadia, during which he successfully transitioned responsibilities to ensure operational continuity within the senior leadership team.
- Leadership Remarks: President and CEO Kenneth F. Bernstein expressed gratitude for Napolitano's contributions, highlighting his significant role in shaping the company culture and driving success, leaving a lasting legacy for future leadership.
- Executive Promotions: Acadia Realty Trust has announced the promotion of AJ Levine to Executive Vice President of Leasing and Development, which will enhance leadership in property management and marketing teams, further supporting the company's internal growth strategy.
- Financial Reporting Leadership: Erica Pipitone has been promoted to Vice President of Financial Reporting, continuing her oversight of SEC reporting and technical accounting matters, reflecting her progressive advancement within the accounting team since joining in 2020.
- Retirement Notification: Joseph Napolitano has notified the company of his intention to retire on April 1, 2026, after a 31-year career, marking a significant transition in the company's executive team that may impact future management structure.
- Leadership Remarks: Kenneth F. Bernstein, President and CEO, expressed gratitude for Napolitano's contributions, highlighting his pivotal role in shaping the company's culture and driving success, leaving a lasting legacy.
Key Promotions Announced: A realty trust has announced significant promotions within its management team, highlighting advancements in leadership roles.
Management Team Changes: The announcement includes changes aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the management team.
- Operational Performance: According to Nareit's report, REITs demonstrated strong operational performance in the first three quarters of 2025, with funds from operations (FFO) increasing by 6.2% year-over-year, indicating resilience and profitability in the sector.
- Dividend Growth: The sector also saw a 6.3% year-over-year increase in dividend payouts, reflecting the stability of company earnings and potentially attracting more capital inflows into the REIT market.
- Market Expectation Adjustments: Cohen & Steers noted that despite the strong performance, weaker-than-expected demand and disappointing fundamentals in 2026 are likely to lead to rising cap rates and declining asset values, prompting investors to approach the market with caution.
- Short Selling Trends: Ahead of the upcoming earnings season, Seeking Alpha compiled short interest data for REIT stocks with market caps over $2 billion, revealing that Medical Properties Trust (MPW) has the highest short interest at 25.09%, indicating significant pessimism among investors regarding this asset class.

- Executive Transition: Acadia Realty Trust announced that David Buell will succeed Richard Hartmann as Chief Accounting Officer starting January 2026, with Hartmann transitioning to Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives to ensure a smooth handover.
- Extensive Experience: Buell brings over 15 years of experience in the real estate investment trust sector, having held several leadership roles, particularly as Chief Accounting Officer, which is expected to provide the company with fresh financial management perspectives and strategic direction.
- Audit Background: Prior to joining Acadia, Buell served as a Senior Manager at KPMG, focusing on audits in the real estate sector, and his expertise is anticipated to enhance the company's financial transparency and compliance.
- Strategic Development: This executive change not only highlights the company's commitment to internal talent but also reflects Acadia's long-term planning for financial management and strategic implementation, aiming to drive sustained profitable growth.







