Farmland Partners appoints new board director

Farmland Partners has appointed Michael Christodolou as an independent director. He replaces Dean Jernigan on the real esate investment trust’s (REIT) board.

The firm invests in farmland across North America, which it leases to operational farming tenants. It has a portfolio of 253 over 104,742 acres, which produce crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, sunflower, milo, edible beans and blueberries.

Christodolou is also the manager and founder of financial advisory firm Inwood Capital Management. He was a member of the audit, compensation and corporate governance and nominating committees at Lindsay Corporation, where he also served as chairman from 2003 until the beginning of this year.

Lindsay makes irrigation and infrastructure products for the agri sector.

Farmland Partners chief executive, Paul Pittman, said in a statement that Christodolou “brings significant experiences in investments, corporate governance and agriculture,” adding that the company would continue to expand their portfolio.

Dean Jernigan resigned from Famland Partners’ board this month, citing a desire to focus on his role as chief executive at Jernigan Capital, a direct lender to self-storage companies, and other business ventures.