DeKalb Perimeter CID Board Chairman Brian Smith Promoted to President at Brand Properties
We love seeing our board members thrive — and Brian Smith just gave us a great reason to celebrate.
Brian Smith, Chairman of the DeKalb Perimeter CID Board and a trusted voice in the Perimeter community, has been promoted to President of Management, Leasing & Advisory at Brand Properties, a full-service commercial real estate firm headquartered in Atlanta.
Smith joined Brand Properties in 2022 as Executive Vice President of Leasing & Development. In the four years since, he’s built a reputation as a leader with a rare ability to see the big picture — making decisions that strengthen the entire organization rather than any single part of it.
“Since joining Brand Properties four years ago, Brian has shown exemplary leadership skills,” said R. Brand Morgan, CEO of Brand Properties. He credited Smith’s relationship-driven approach and commitment to both clients and employees as key drivers of the firm’s continued growth.
As President, Smith oversees Brand’s Duluth office, where 65 professionals provide management, leasing, and advisory services for private and institutional owners of retail, office, and mixed-use assets. The firm currently manages a portfolio of nearly five million square feet of commercial real estate across the Southeast.
“My top priority as President is to ensure that our organization functions with clarity of purpose and excellence in execution,” Smith said. “I am focused on our people and our clients while ensuring we operate with discipline and consistency.”
Navigating a Shifting Market
Smith’s promotion comes at a pivotal moment for commercial real estate, as the industry contends with shifting tenant concepts, rising operating costs, and evolving capital markets. His outlook is grounded and optimistic: Brand will succeed, he believes, by staying close to the market, understanding emerging trends, and ensuring that asset positioning stays relevant.
“Brand will succeed due to our strengths — trust in client relationships and operational excellence,” Smith said.
Smith brings decades of commercial real estate experience across asset classes, working with both boutique developers and global investment firms. Before joining Brand, he served as Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President at Poag Shopping Centers, where he helped build a $1.5 billion lifestyle center portfolio. He has also held leadership roles at CBL Properties in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Copaken Brooks in Kansas City, Mo.
A Leader in the Perimeter Community
Beyond his work at Brand, Smith remains deeply committed to the communities where he works. In addition to serving as Chairman of the DeKalb Perimeter CID Board, he is an officer of the Board of the Sugarloaf CID and a board member of the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce.
Congratulations, Brian — we’re proud to have you leading the way, both at Brand Properties and right here in the Perimeter community.
