Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. announced that Kristi Smith has been named President of the company's Maryland region, where she will lead the continued growth and revitalization of Downtown Columbia®. Smith is a seasoned commercial real estate development and investment leader who brings 20 years of experience with a focus in the Washington, D.C. metro region. She assumes the leadership role at a time of dynamic growth, with Downtown Columbia undergoing a $5 billion, 30-year redevelopment plan which is transforming Columbia's urban core.  Smith previously served as Executive Vice President in charge of Development for JBG SMITH, a publicly traded, multifamily and office real estate investment trust in the Washington, D.C. market.

She oversaw the company's mixed-use multifamily and commercial projects in top submarkets, including the development of Amazon's HQ2 in Arlington, VA. A founding member of the company's Women's Initiative, Smith is dedicated to the advancement of women and overall inclusivity in the workplace. She serves on the Board of Directors for NAIOP DC | MD. Smith earned a B.S. in Commerce from the University of Virginia, and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

Smith assumes the role of regional president from Greg Fitchitt, who has been with Howard Hughes since 2013 and succeeded the late John DeWolf as regional president in 2018. During Fitchitt's tenure, Columbia saw the emergence of the Merriweather District as a leading mixed-use destination in the region, resulting from the strong public-private partnership between Howard County and Howard Hughes. Fitchitt brings his expertise to his new role as Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and Business Development at Howard Hughes, providing strategic oversight at the corporate level.