Pressler was CEO of U.S. operations for the real estate and mortgage pension fund management firm. Pratt founded Boston Financial Group in 1969. Lend Lease purchased the firm in 1999. Pratt is also a member of Lend Lease Corp.'s senior executive committee which oversees the operations of the global real estate firm.

"Atlanta is one of our most important bases because most of our people in investment management business operate out of Atlanta and that is not going to change," Jonathan Miller, Lend Lease principal and corporate communications manager, tells GlobeSt.com. "Fred spends the majority of time in Atlanta and that should continue."

Miller says there have been no other changes to the company's executive or portfolio management group with Pratt's appointment. Lend Lease manages $35 billion in assets in the U.S. Clients include pension funds, financial companies and other institutional investors and mutual fund investors. The firm has $59 billion in its loan servicing portfolios.