Chairman and Founder of Lane Co. Steps into CEO Role as Bill Donges Leaves as Part of Downsizing

By Anuradha Kher, Online News EditorAtlanta–Lane Co., like so many other companies in this tough economic time, is downsizing. Chairman and company founder George Lane will replace CEO Bill Donges (pictured) and Donges will continue to play an executive advisory role at the company.“I was part of the decision-making process,” Donges tells MHN. He has no hard feelings as he leaves a company he has spearheaded since 2005. “Given the contraction of the capital markets, it’s appropriate for just one person to be both chairman and CEO. This is the sign of the times and we are downsizing like any other company in this market.”“Working with everybody at Lane Company has been a great experience, but it’s time to get back to the basics,” Donges says. Both Lane and Donges emphasize that Lane Company remains strong in property management and asset management, and is continuing to pursue acquisitions and new development.    While Donges will maintain his office at Lane for some months to come, he is looking for new opportunities. As for going back to Lane Co. when the tough times have passed, Donges says, “I guess anything can happen—certainly the door is open for me to do that, but that depends on when the capital markets will normalize and things will be back to where they were.”