Exclusive: General Growth names new general counsel: memo

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. mall owner General Growth Properties Inc (GGP.N) named Andrew Perel as its new general counsel, according to an internal email memo from incoming Chief Executive Officer Sandeep Mathrani.

Perel, currently the managing partner of the New York office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, will succeed Ronald Gern, who is leaving the company.

The memo, issued late on Wednesday evening, also said Alan Barocas principal of Alan J Barocas and Associates, a retail real estate consulting group, will become General Growth's new executive vice president of mall leasing.

Richard Pesin, executive vice president and director of retail development for Forest City Ratner Cos, part of Forest City Enterprises Inc (FCEa.N) will become its new executive vice president of anchors, development and construction, the memo said.

The positions are effective January 17, when Mathrani also will take over as CEO.

A representative from General Growth could not be reached immediately for comment.

(Reporting by Ilaina Jonas; Editing by Derek Caney)