Howard Hughes Executive to Transition to Advisory Role
The leadership change will shift management of major Texas projects to the chief operating officer beginning in January.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in People
Live Poll
Do you trust that changes in local corporate leadership will maintain your community's current quality?
Howard Hughes executive Jim Carman is set to transition into an advisory role starting in January 2027. The move follows an internal organizational realignment at the company.
Why it matters
The transition marks a shift in leadership oversight for the firm's Texas portfolio, which includes significant master-planned developments in The Woodlands, Bridgeland, and The Woodlands Hills.
During his tenure dating back to 2012, Jim Carman managed over $3 billion in development projects and $1.1 billion in land sales. His departure from operational duties follows an organizational realignment within the company.
The players
Jim Carman
A long-tenured executive at Howard Hughes who oversaw $3 billion in development projects.
Drew Davis
The chief operating officer of Howard Hughes responsible for the company's Texas portfolio.
Howard Hughes
A national developer and manager of large-scale master-planned communities.
The details
Carman joined Howard Hughes in 2012, building a career centered on land management and development across the firm's high-profile Texas holdings. Following his move to an advisory role, Chief Operating Officer Drew Davis will assume full oversight of key properties including The Woodlands, Bridgeland, and The Woodlands Hills. This change consolidates executive management of the firm's regional assets under the COO as the company shifts its operational structure.
Timeline
2012: Jim Carman joined Howard Hughes.
January 2027: Jim Carman will transition to an advisory role.
Market Landscape
This leadership change follows the 2021 referendum where over 67% of voters rejected the incorporation of The Woodlands, a key milestone in the area's governance. The realignment consolidates regional management under the current COO following that decisive public vote.
Operators in the region should anticipate consolidated decision-making processes under Drew Davis for all future developments in The Woodlands, Bridgeland, and The Woodlands Hills. Stakeholders should review their points of contact for ongoing projects ahead of the January transition.
The takeaway
Management transitions at major developers often signal a shift in regional development priorities or consolidation of operational control. Monitoring the updated organizational hierarchy will clarify who holds the primary decision-making authority for future land use and development agreements.
Further reading
For more on shifts in local executive talent, see our coverage of People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Houston Chronicle.
Live Poll
Do you trust that changes in local corporate leadership will maintain your community's current quality?
