Top Forest City development exec leaving for Lend Lease

Melissa Burch will be replaced by Howard Hughes' Susi Yu

From left: Melissa Burch, Susi Yu and B2 rendering
From left: Melissa Burch, Susi Yu and B2 rendering

Melissa Burch, executive vice president of commercial and residential development at Forest City Ratner and the person overseeing the developer’s Pacific Park megaproject in Brooklyn, has jumped to construction giant Lend Lease.

Burch had replaced MaryAnne Gilmartin in the high-profile role in 2013, after Gilmartin was promoted to CEO. Her exit occurred amid cost overruns and delays at Forest City’s B2 tower construction at the project, formerly known as Atlantic Yards.

Sign Up for the undefined Newsletter

In Burch’s new job at Lend Lease, she will serve as executive general manager in charge of expanding Lend Lease’s development operations, the New York Daily News reported.

Meanwhile, Forest City Ratner alum Susi Yu will return to replace Burch in the role, the developer announced today. Yu was serving as senior vice president at the Howard Hughes Corporation, which has proposed redeveloping the South Street Seaport. [NYDN]Mark Maurer