Dec 06, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. Potlatch Corporation's board of directors announced on Monday that Michael J. Covey, currently executive vice president at Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc., has accepted an offer to become president and chief executive officer of Potlatch Corporation, and has been elected a director of Potlatch, all of which will be effective February 6, 2006. L. Pendleton Siegel, 63, Chairman and chief executive officer of the company since 1999, will continue as chairman of the board of directors through the end of 2006. "We are extremely fortunate to have Mike Covey join Potlatch. Mike possesses the breadth of experience and understanding of our industry necessary to ensure the future success of Potlatch as well as in-depth knowledge of real estate investment trusts and their complicated requirements," noted Mr. Siegel. Potlatch's board of directors in September approved a plan to convert Potlatch to a REIT on January 1, 2006. Mr. Siegel added that Mr. Covey's operational experience within the Plum Creek organization also makes him a great fit for Potlatch as it moves forward. "Mike has managed millions of acres of forestland profitably and has had extensive experience with identifying the highest and best uses of forestland and using such information to reinforce the financial strength of a company. He also has had hands-on experience with a wide range of manufacturing operations." Mr. Covey started his career with Plum Creek in 1982 as a financial analyst and subsequently managed lumber and plywood operations in the intermountain region prior to becoming general manager of Rocky Mountain Timberlands in 1995 and vice president of Resources in 1998. In 2000, Mr. Covey was appointed senior vice president in charge of operations, reporting to the president and CEO. A native of Montana, Mr. Covey is a forestry graduate of the University of Montana and holds a master's in business administration in forest industries management from the University of Oregon. Potlatch is a diversified forest products company with 1.5 million acres of timberlands in four states: Arkansas, Idaho, Minnesota and Oregon.