Leo Wells

Director

Leo F. Wells III is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Wells Real Estate Funds and and serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wells REIT II. A 30-year veteran of the real estate brokerage, sales, and management industries, Mr. Wells founded Wells Real Estate Funds in 1984 and pioneered a disciplined real estate investment philosophy across a variety of innovative real estate investment opportunities.

Under Mr. Wells’ guidance, the company has experienced great growth. Since 1984, Wells Real Estate Funds has served more than 250,000 investors and managed over $12 billion in assets. Wells Real Estate Funds was the nation’s largest purchaser of Class-A office properties in 2002 and the largest purchaser of commercial real estate in 2003, according to Real Capital Analytics. In 2009, the Atlanta Business Chronicle named Mr. Wells’ company Atlanta's "Best Place to Work" among midsize companies.

Recognized as an industry expert on real estate investment trusts (REITs), Mr. Wells is sought after by the media and industry speaking circuit. He has been a guest on ABC, CNBC, CBS "Market Watch," and "Bloomberg Television." His insights have been featured in numerous publications including Money, Investor's Business Daily, Pensions & Investments, Financial Planning, The New York Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Wall Street Transcript.

Mr. Wells has been honored for his contributions to his community and the real estate industry. He received the national Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award in the financial services category (2003), was nominated for the Turknett Leadership Character Award (2005), and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business (2006). In 2009, Mr. Wells was elected to the Board of Governors for the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) and was inducted into the Hall of Distinction at Georgia State University by the Southeastern Chapter of the Real Estate Investment Advisory Council (REIAC). He is a graduate of the University of Georgia where he recieved a B.B.A in Economics.

In his spare time, Mr. Wells enjoys travel on international mission trips and with the National Geographic Society, as well as photography, bridge, and golf. He is an active supporter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the University of Georgia and other schools, and is a staunch supporter of UGA athletics.