Russell Platt joined J.E. Robert Companies as JER International's principal and president, a newly created position.
Mr. Platt recently was managing director and head of real estate securities investment worldwide for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Investment Management. Mr. Platt will be replaced by Theodore Bigman, who will report to Barton Biggs, chairman at Morgan Stanley. Mr. Platt will be based in JER's new office in London, which is slated to open by the end of March, a spokeswoman said.