David Cheikin, who stepped down as head of Brookfield Properties’ New York and Boston offices earlier this year, is joining Columbia Property Trust.

Cheikin will take on the role as senior vice president of strategic real estate initiatives, Columbia announced Monday. He will oversee the company’s properties in New York, Washington, D.C., and Boston, as well as providing operational leadership for the Atlanta-based REIT's national portfolio.

“We are extremely pleased to have Dave join Columbia,” Columbia CEO Nelson Mills said in a release. “He has a strong track record of leadership and strategic planning, with a particular emphasis on managing significant operational initiatives in New York City, our largest market.”

Cheikin stepped down from Brookfield in March after nearly 16 years at the company. He had been responsible for Brookfield’s 25M SF commercial portfolio in New York City and Boston. Ben Brown took over the role in April.

Columbia owns 9M SF across 19 Class-A office properties, largely in New York, San Francisco and D.C. In May, it sold a 25-story office tower on East 41st Street for $332.5M to Commerz Real, the real assets investment manager of Germany’s Commerzbank.