Boston real estate developer The Davis Cos. is opening an office in Florida and has added longtime real estate industry executive Seth Werner as part of its expansion into the Southeast.

Werner has joined the company as managing principal. Werner’s responsibilities will include overseeing investment in Florida, Atlanta and other Southeastern states on behalf of the company’s new $230 million Davis Investment Ventures Value Opportunity Fund I. Werner has also been appointed a member of the company’s investment committee.

"With Seth at the helm of our Southeast division, our team now has one of the industry’s leaders guiding us in the region," said The Davis Cos. CEO Jonathan Davis. "In a time when significant dislocation is occurring in the marketplace and the Southeast region has been one of the most impacted in the country, we’re confident that Seth’s deep understanding of the Southeast market and his extensive industry relationships will enable The Davis Cos. to maximize available opportunities and execute a successful investment program."

Werner brings more than 35 years of experience in the real estate industry to this new position. Prior to joining The Davis Cos., he served as chairman and CEO of Cypress Creek Capital Holdings,LLC, a Florida-based real estate investment company. 

The company plans to invest in office, retail, industrial and residential properties. It will acquire properties on an all cash or leveraged basis, will purchase mortgages and make loans to investors seeking to acquire or recapitalize properties.

"In order to find leaders in this business, you look at the track record of real estate developers who have achieved rates of return that are consistently higher than their peers. In this respect, The Davis Cos. is a true standout. Their record is something I have long admired and I’m looking forward to driving their expansion in the Southeast region," said Seth Werner, new MP of The Davis Cos.