Gilchrist, who assumes his new position July 6, tellsGlobeSt.com that he was not looking for another post when heannounced his resignation from Maguire earlier this year. "This isprobably the only call that I would have had any interest inpursuing," says Gilchrist, who has a consulting arrangement withMaguire that continues until June 30.

Gilchrist says his mission at the 110-year-old Irvine Co. is "toprovide some leadership for the office division and to make apositive difference incrementally." He comments, "My mission iscertainly not to fix anything because it's not broken. There willbe no sea change because there is no need for it."

The new position returns Gilchrist to the ranks of privatelyheld companies, where he has spent most of his career. "It was anew adventure for me to be a public company CEO, and I enjoyed it,"he says. Nonetheless, he adds, "Given my choice, I think I preferthe private company setting."