Christopher J. Hanlon, senior vice president as well as chief operating officer of WCI Communities’ tower building division, is leaving to pursue other opportunities. Hanlon will stay through the end of 2007 to oversee the completion of all the towers scheduled to close this year.

WCI announced it will select a successor from its current management team before Hanlon leaves. But it’s not clear there will be much to manage on the tower side of the business. WCI, with its hard-hit, Florida-centric market, has started no new towers for more than a year as it has struggled to complete and sell the ones it has had under construction for several years.

“We appreciate the leadership Chris has provided over the past 16 years and the significant role he has played in growing our Tower business,” said WCI’s president and CEO Jerry Starkey. “We wish Chris well as he pursues entrepreneurial opportunities.”

“I’ve had tremendous and rewarding experiences throughout my career at WCI. Although I am leaving to pursue other opportunities, I am confident that the WCI Tower business remains in the very capable hands of the management team I have helped to recruit and train over the years,” Hanlon said.