AvalonBay Names Three New Executive Vice Presidents

AvalonBay Communities, a leading Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) with multi-family apartment communities in high barrier-to-entry markets of the United States, today announced the promotions of three Senior Vice Presidents (SVP) – Sean Breslin, Bill McLaughlin, and Steve Wilson – to Executive Vice President (EVP) positions, effective immediately.

Mr. Breslin, who joined AvalonBay in 2002, oversees Redevelopment and Asset Management nationally, including the Market Research function. Mr. McLaughlin, a 16 year veteran of the Company, has overall responsibility for Development and Construction for the Northeast. Mr. Wilson, who has been with AvalonBay for 12 years, has overall responsibility for Development and Construction for the West Coast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The three new EVPs will become members of AvalonBay’s Executive Committee. Given Mr. Breslin’s focus on portfolio management, he will also become a member of the Management Investment Committee.

Commenting on the promotions, Bryce Blair, Chairman and CEO of AvalonBay Communities, said: "I’m proud to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of each of these individuals and to welcome them to the ranks of the Executive Committee. They are valued veterans of AvalonBay, and during their respective tenures have taken on broad leadership responsibilities and played key roles in our Company’s success. We look forward to their continued contributions going forward as we implement our plans to start $380 million in new development this year and increase our redevelopment program in what we believe will be a period of improving apartment fundamentals. I offer them my warmest congratulations.”

Notes to editors

The following is a brief overview of all three of these individuals’ tenure at AvalonBay Communities, as well as their previous professional experience:

Sean Breslin

Breslin joined AvalonBay Communities in 2002 in the Newport Beach, California office as Vice President – Investments, with responsibility for acquisitions and dispositions on the West Coast. In 2006, he was promoted to Senior Vice President – Investments, with the additional responsibility of overseeing redevelopment activity on the West Coast. In 2008, Breslin became Senior Vice President – Redevelopment and Asset Management, with national responsibility for the expanding redevelopment function. In early 2009, he relocated to Virginia and continued in his role as Senior Vice President – Redevelopment and Asset Management, where he has focused his efforts on building a best-in-class redevelopment team. Prior to joining the Company in 2002, Breslin was the Chief Operating Officer of CWS Capital Partners, where he was responsible for the Company’s operations and investment activity.

Bill McLaughlin

McLaughlin joined AvalonBay Communities in 1994 as a Development Director in the Boston office, when he became the first development associate hired after AvalonBay’s initial public offering. In 1998, he was promoted to Vice President – Development with responsibility for all development in the Boston region. Under his leadership, AvalonBay built the dominant multifamily development franchise in the Boston market. In 2002, McLaughlin became Senior Vice President – Development, overseeing development activity in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey, as well as wood-frame development activity in Westchester, NY. In 2009, he became head of Development and Construction for the Northeast. Before joining the Company, McLaughlin was with Lincoln Property Company, where he was responsible for multifamily development and acquisitions in eastern New England.

Steve Wilson

Wilson joined AvalonBay Communities in 1998 in the Company’s Seattle, Washington office as a Senior Development Director. In 2000, he was promoted to Vice President – Development, with overall responsibility for new development in the Seattle market. In 2002, Wilson relocated to Northern California where he oversaw all development activity in the Bay Area and Seattle as Senior Vice President - Development. In 2005, he expanded his responsibility to include oversight of all West Coast development activity, including the Southern California region. In 2009, Wilson became head of Development and Construction for the West Coast and Mid-Atlantic. Prior to joining the Company in 1998, he was a Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for SU Development, Inc. of Bellevue, Washington and Senior Vice President of Continental Pacific, Inc. of Bellevue, Washington.

About AvalonBay Communities

As of December 31, 2009, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 172 apartment communities containing 50,364 apartment homes in ten states and the District of Columbia, of which seven communities were under construction and seven communities were under reconstruction. AvalonBay is in the business of developing, redeveloping, acquiring, and managing apartment communities in high barrier-to-entry markets of the United States. More information on AvalonBay, an S&P 500 listed company, may be found on AvalonBay's Web site at http://www.avalonbay.com.