Tejon Ranch names Matthew Walker as new President and CEO

TEJON RANCH, Calif. - Tejon Ranch Company (NYSE:TRC), a diversified real estate development and agribusiness firm with a market capitalization of $439 million, has appointed Matthew Walker as its new President and CEO, effective March 31, 2025. According to InvestingPro data, the company currently maintains a FAIR financial health rating, with strong liquidity evidenced by a current ratio of 2.84. Walker will initially join the company as Chief Operating Officer on March 6, transitioning to his new role at the end of the month. The announcement follows a comprehensive nationwide search led by the company’s Board of Directors.

Walker, who will succeed outgoing President and CEO Gregory S. Bielli, brings over two decades of experience from his tenure at Lowe Enterprises, a Los Angeles-based real estate firm. His expertise spans various aspects of real estate, including resort and residential development, sales, and master planned community entitlement. Walker’s career has focused on creating projects that resonate with their localities and build lasting loyalty among residents and visitors.

The incoming CEO, a fifth-generation Californian, expressed his commitment to the responsible development of Tejon Ranch, highlighting its significance for California’s balance of conservation and economic growth. He underscored the potential for Tejon Ranch to provide jobs, housing, and development opportunities in Southern California.

Norman Metcalfe, Chairman of the Board, welcomed Walker, noting his unique background and the importance of his role in the company’s next growth phase. Metcalfe also acknowledged Bielli’s contributions during his leadership, which included the development of the Outlets at Tejon and the expansion of the Tejon Ranch Commerce Center.

Bielli, who will retire from his role as President & CEO but continue as an executive advisor and Director on the Board, praised Walker’s qualifications for advancing the company’s objectives. Under Bielli’s leadership, Tejon Ranch saw significant development and engagement in economic initiatives.

Tejon Ranch Company, with its vast 270,000-acre land holding, is poised for future growth, leveraging the Tejon Ranch Commerce Center and the development of its additional master planned communities. This transition in leadership marks a new chapter for the company as it continues to drive shareholder value and plan for the future. The company’s stock is currently trading above its Fair Value according to InvestingPro analysis, with investors eagerly awaiting the next earnings report scheduled for February 27, 2025. Get access to 7 additional exclusive ProTips and comprehensive financial analysis by subscribing to InvestingPro.

The information in this article is based on a press release statement.

In other recent news, Tejon Ranch Co . has been making significant changes in its executive leadership. The company recently announced the extension of its President and Chief Executive Officer, Gregory S. Bielli’s retirement date from December 31, 2024, to March 31, 2025. This decision was made to ensure continuity and to aid in the transition to a new CEO. An ad hoc search committee is currently in the process of finding Mr. Bielli’s successor.

In parallel, Tejon Ranch Co. also disclosed the impending retirement of Allen E. Lyda, a long-serving executive who held several roles including Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Assistant Secretary, and Assistant Treasurer. His retirement will be effective from March 1, 2025. The company has not yet announced a successor for Lyda’s position.

These are recent developments within the company and are part of the natural cycle of corporate governance. They reflect Tejon Ranch Co.’s commitment to transparency with its stakeholders and the public.

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