HOUSTON-Abby Office Centers has tapped William Edmundson aspresident and chief executive officer.

In his new role with the executive suites company, the formerhospitality executive will head up the company’s expansion plans,which call for 10 to 15% growth annually over the next three tofive years. Edmundson will report to Abby Office CentersChairman Chris Brown, who founded the company. Brown istransitioning management responsibilities of Abby Office Centers toEdmundson.

Edmundson tells GlobeSt. that he was initially approached aboutthe Abby Office Centers’ opportunity by national executive searchfirm Heidrick & Struggles. “I had not really thought a lotabout the executive suites industry, but when I got really excitedabout the industry and the opportunity the more I thought about thesimilarities between the hospitality industry and the executivesuites industry,” he explains. “A lot of the components are thesame and directly applicable to because we’re not just providingspace, but we’re providing service.”