Mack quits trust to pursue public service ventures - Earle I. Mack resigns from Mack-Call board

Real Estate Weekly, Jan 21, 2004 by Peter Moore

Earle I. Mack, a senior partner of Mack-Call has resigned from the company's Board of Directors.

Mack left to pursue other career goals, as well as ventures in public service, civic life and philanthropy, according to a statement issued by Mack-Cali, a real estate investment trust.

Mitchell Hersch, CEO of Mack Call, wished the partner well in his new endeavors," adding, "We are very thankful for Earle's valuable contributions to the company over the past six years."

Mack has served as a member of company's board of directors since 1997. Before that, he served as senior partner, chief financial officer and a director of the Mack organization, where he pioneered the development of large, Class A office properties and helped increase the Mack organization's portfolio to approximately 20 million square feet.

Mack serves as a member of the board of directors of DiGiorgio/White Rose Corp. and as a member of its executive and executive compensation committees. He also is the chairman of the board of directors of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and the chairman emeritus of the New York State Council on the Arts.

Mack's brother David, a senior partner with MackCali, will replace Earle on the board of directors. Their brother William is the chairman of the board.

Last month, it was revealed that Mack had given Governor George Pataki use of his private jet to fly to the developer's Vrigin Islands vacation home.

State laws prohibit a public official from accepting any gift worth more than $75 from someone doing business with the state who could gain favor through the gift. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey recently approved a rail link to the New Jersey Meadowlands that could benefit a company whose board of directors include Mack. Pataki denied any wrongdoing, insisting he reimbursed Mack for all expenses. The state Ethics Commission declined to investigate the governor, saying he followed the reimbursement guidelines.

Howard Rubenstein, a spokesman for Mack-Cali, said Mack's resignation had nothing to do with the recent controversy, adding that the senior partner had been considering his resignation for some time.

"The governor and the ethics board and virtually everyone acknowledged he [Mack] acted appropriately," said Rubenstein. "He's a man of the highest ethical standing and, in my estimation, that standing remains totally intact."

The spokesman added, "He'll be emphasizing and putting a great deal of time into public service and community activity."