A New York-based retail REIT that spun off from Vornado has lured two executives away from Bethesda, Maryland-based Federal Realty Investment Trust.

Urban Edge announced Wednesday it hired Chris Weilminster, a 28-year Federal Realty veteran, as chief operating officer. It also brought on Don Briggs, who spent 18 years with Federal Realty, as president of development.

Weilminster most recently served as Federal Realty's executive vice president of leasing and president of its mixed-use division. He will replace Urban Edge COO Robert Minutoli, who plans to retire at year's end. Briggs was Federal Realty's executive vice president of development.

At Federal Realty, Weilminster and Briggs worked on major projects such as Bethesda Row and Pike & Rose in Montgomery County, plus dozens of other properties across the country. Weilminster discussed those projects at Bisnow's Future of Bethesda event last week.

Vornado spun off Urban Edge in 2015 as its own retail REIT, and the company now trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "UE." It owns 88 properties totaling 16.3M SF, and manages another 3M SF for other owners. Its owned portfolio includes three D.C.-area properties in Tysons, Rockville and Wheaton, plus retail centers in California, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

“The infill nature of Urban Edge’s properties makes them ideal candidates for bold, creative thinking," Weilminster said in a release. "Don and I are highly familiar with the type of work that needs to be done, and we look forward to applying our expertise to achieve great results.”