Boston Properties has appointed Owen Thomas to serve as the real estate investment trust’s CEO.

Thomas, chairman of the board of Lehman Brothers Holdings, will succeed Mortimer Zuckerman at Boston Properties effective April 2. Zuckerman will remain as executive chairman and return to his original role in company activities.

Thomas has more than 25 years of real estate experience. Thomas has served as chairman of the board of Lehman Brothers Holdings since March of 2012. In that time, he oversaw the disposition of assets including the sale of Archstone Enterprise LP to Equity Residential and AvalonBay Communities for $15 billion.

From 1987 to 2011, Thomas held senior positions at Morgan Stanley, including CEO of Morgan Stanley Asia and president of Morgan Stanley Investment Management.  

"Boston Properties has tremendous momentum as we adhere to a disciplined strategy of focusing on high-quality, iconic assets in attractive markets," Zuckerman said in a statement. "Together with Doug Linde, Ray Ritchey and our other talented colleagues, Owen will build on that legacy and we look forward to his contributions."