James A. Ratner is an executive vice president and director of Forest City Enterprises, Inc., and chairman and CEO of Forest City Commercial Group, the commercial real estate development and management division of Forest City. The company emphasizes the development of urban retail and mixed-use properties and nonconventional regional and lifestyle centers. Before joining Forest City, Ratner spent five years at the Nasher Company, a privately owned real estate development firm in Dallas, where he was responsible for supervising new development projects.

Ratner holds a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and an M.B.A. from Harvard University. He serves as emeriti trustee at Case Western Reserve University and is a member of the board of trustees of the Cleveland Museum of Art, Urban Land Institute and PlayhouseSquare Foundation.