A. Thomas Leonhard Jr.

One could say President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Leonhard was born for this role. As a native New Orleanian, he developed a lifelong appreciation for what creates truly vibrant urban experiences. Under Tom’s leadership, HRI Properties has grown into the premier national real estate company it is today. He oversees all of HRI’s operations, which now include more than 50 properties in 16 states and the 1,900+ employees who manage them.

Since joining HRI in 1988, he’s been instrumental in helping the company expand its footprint beyond New Orleans through large-scale urban development of hotels, apartments and commercial properties, as well as the adaptive reuse of historic properties. He was named president and chief operating officer in 2001 and became a principal of the firm in 2006. With Tom’s guidance, HRI has seen significant growth nationally, establishing a strong track record of successful urban projects along the way. While doing so, Tom built a company culture that New Orleans CityBusiness named “Best Place to Work” in 2014.

Tom holds a B.S. in finance and an MBA with a concentration in real estate, both from the University of New Orleans. He’s active in the local business community as a former member of the Louisiana Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization and serves on the Executive Committee for the Business Council of New Orleans. He’s also taken a keen interest in preparing his community’s future leaders. Between 2003 and 2005, he was an adjunct professor of economics and finance at the University of New Orleans, and for seven years, he proudly served as a trustee of the Stuart Hall School for Boys.