Edward J. Fritsch served as the CEO of Highwoods Properties, Inc. from November 2005 until his retirement in September 2019. With expertise in real estate, he led the company through significant transformations and market adaptations. During his tenure, Fritsch was...

Edward J. Fritsch served as the CEO of Highwoods Properties, Inc. from November 2005 until his retirement in September 2019. With expertise in real estate, he led the company through significant transformations and market adaptations. During his tenure, Fritsch was known for aligning executive pay with company performance, ensuring that his compensation reflected his contributions to Highwoods' success. For example, in 2019, his total compensation reached about $5.9 million, which included a cash bonus for excellent performance. His leadership style emphasized teamwork and individual excellence, driving impressive yearly results in net operating income and occupancy rates. After retiring, he agreed to serve as a consultant for the company for two years, continuing to support Highwoods after his official departure. Fritsch's influence on the company was substantial, as he oversaw strategic decisions that shaped Highwoods' portfolio and market position.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Highwoods Properties CEOs

H

Edward J. Fritsch

Ex-CEO of Highwoods Properties

Education

Not specified

Field of Expertise

Real Estate & Construction - Real Estate

Sector of Economy

Real Estate

Born

January 1, 1959 - 66 years ago

CEO of Highwoods Properties for

13 years 10 months (Nov 2005 - Sep 2019)

Previous Experience

CEO of Highwoods Properties, Inc. since 2005; previously held positions in the real estate industry.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Edward J. Fritsch

S

Marc Holliday

CEO of SL Green Realty

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.25M

Bonus

$2.91M

Other

$36.46K

Total Holdings

$89.45M

B

Owen D. Thomas

CEO of Boston Properties

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$950.00K

Bonus

$2.72M

Other

$31.64K

Total Holdings

$615.83K

P

C. Brent Smith

CEO of Piedmont Office Realty Trust

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.29M

Salary

$700.00K

Bonus

$1.05M

Other

$22.75K

Total Holdings

$6.64M

D

Jordan Kaplan

CEO of Douglas Emmett

2023 Compensation

Stock

$9.29M

Salary

$800.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$21.11K

Total Holdings

$45.43M

Holdings

See how much did Edward J. Fritsch make over time.

During Fritsch's leadership, his stake in Highwoods Properties saw fluctuations based on market performance. In his early years as CEO, he had significant holdings of time-based restricted stock, notably vesting over several years. By 2019, the total value of vested...

During Fritsch's leadership, his stake in Highwoods Properties saw fluctuations based on market performance. In his early years as CEO, he had significant holdings of time-based restricted stock, notably vesting over several years. By 2019, the total value of vested stock that he controlled reflected his commitment to the company's growth, with vested stock totaling approximately $2.2 million of his annual compensation alone in 2019. His holdings at one point likely represented a major portion of his total wealth, but as he prepared for retirement, he ensured that benefits related to his stock would continue to vest after he departed. This structure was key to retaining top talent while motivating team performance.

Mar 11, 2025

H

shares

HIW @ $28.62

Total Stock Sold

$31.21M

HIW

$31.21M

783,187 HIW shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Edward J. Fritsch didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra HIW783,187 shares worth $29.46M.
This is -5.59% and $1.75M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

HIW

16,787 shares

HIW

Recent Charitable Transactions

HIW

5,000 shares

HIW

Dec 31, 2016

Charity

HIW

2,500 shares

HIW

Dec 31, 2015

Charity

HIW

5,000 shares

HIW

Dec 31, 2014

Charity

HIW

2,500 shares

HIW

Dec 31, 2013

Charity

HIW

1,787 shares

HIW

Dec 21, 2012

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Edward J. Fritsch.

HIW

50,872 shares

HIW

Mar 1, 2019

Received

HIW

54,216 shares

HIW

Mar 1, 2018

Received

HIW

41,335 shares

HIW

Mar 1, 2017

Received

HIW

$4.49M

HIW at $52.30/share

Jun 29, 2016

Sale

HIW

$1.22M

HIW at $49.39/share

Jun 15, 2016

Sale

HIW

5,000 shares

HIW

Dec 31, 2016

Charity

HIW

$1.38M

HIW at $47.10/share

Mar 17, 2016

Sale

HIW

$1.60M

HIW at $45.59/share

Mar 3, 2016

Sale

HIW

38,268 shares

HIW

Feb 29, 2016

Received

HIW

2,500 shares

HIW

Dec 31, 2015

Charity

Compensation History

See how much did Edward J. Fritsch make over time.

Edward J. Fritsch's compensation package at Highwoods Properties was designed to align his interests with the success of the company. His total compensation varied significantly over the years, peaking at around $5.9 million in 2019, which included a substantial base salary of $549,769 and a notable cash bonus of $230,000 for outstanding performance. The structure of his compensation emphasized cash bonuses tied to performance metrics such as net operating income and occupancy rates. Fritsch's bonuses often reflected not just individual achievements but also the team's joint efforts. His compensation strategy ensured he was paid competitively, which helped attract and retain skilled executives in the competitive real estate sector.

Year

2019

Total Compensation

$3.17M

Salary

$549.77K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy is designed to align executive compensation with company performance, peer benchmarking, and retention strategies, ensuring competitive levels of compensation to attract and retain high-quality professionals.

Bonus

$230.00K

Board Justification

Cash bonus for excellent individual and team-oriented performance for 2019.

Other

$179.82K

Board Justification

Includes 401(k) match, dividends on restricted stock, financial consulting services, vehicle allowance, and other benefits.

Restricted Stock

$2.21M(2.21M RSU)

Board Justification

Value of stock awards that vested in 2019, including time-based and total return-based restricted stock.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics include per share funds from operations (FFO), net operating income growth, and average occupancy.

Other Highwoods Properties CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Highwoods Properties

Theodore J. Klinck

CEO of Highwoods Properties

September 2019 - Present