INVESTORS

CHICAGO, July 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: FR), the nation's largest provider of diversified industrial real estate, today announced that Robert Krueger has been promoted to regional director of the Company's Central Florida region. Mr. Krueger will be responsible for overseeing acquisitions, dispositions, developments, build-to- suits, asset management and lease negotiations in the region.

Mr. Krueger has more than 33 years of construction and development experience. Most recently he served as senior regional development officer for First Industrial's Florida region. Mr. Krueger joined First Industrial in 1997 in association with the Company's acquisition of Thompson-Kirk Properties (TKP) where he was vice president and general manager of TRAC Design Builders, Inc., TKP's construction company. Mr. Krueger is a licensed real estate broker, a licensed professional engineer in the states of Florida, Hawaii, and Wisconsin, and holds a Florida Class A General Contracting License. He is an active member of Real Estate Investment Council (REIC), CoreNet Global, and the Tampa Committee of 100 and is past president of the Tampa Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP). Mr. Krueger is a graduate of Marquette University and attended the University of South Florida.

"Bob has helped build First Industrial's portfolio in the Central Florida region through his real estate and engineering expertise, local market knowledge and strong customer relationships," said Mike Brennan, president and chief executive officer. "We look forward to Bob's contributions in his new role as he heads First Industrial's efforts to acquire, develop, redevelop, and lease for the benefit of our corporate customers."

"Florida is a dynamic and growing industrial real estate market and I am excited about First Industrial's opportunities," said David Draft, executive vice president of operations. "With our recently-opened office in Miami led by Jeremy Shapiro, senior regional director, First Industrial is well- positioned to meet the needs of our customers throughout the state."

Mr. Krueger is based out of First Industrial's Tampa office. He can be reached at 813-884-6161, ext. 120.

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc., the nation's largest provider of diversified industrial real estate, serves every aspect of Corporate America's industrial real estate needs, including customized supply chain solutions, through its unique I-N-D-L operating platform, which utilizes a pure Industrial focus and National scope to provide Diverse facility types, while offering Local, full-service management and expertise. Building, buying, selling, leasing and managing industrial property in major markets nationwide, First Industrial develops long term relationships with corporate real estate directors, tenants and brokers to better serve customers with creative, flexible industrial real estate solutions.

This press release contains forward-looking information about the Company. A number of factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including changes in: economic conditions generally and the real estate market specifically, legislative/regulatory changes (including changes to laws governing the taxation of real estate investment trusts), availability of financing, interest rate levels, competition, supply and demand for industrial properties in the Company's current and proposed market areas, potential environmental liabilities, slippage in development or lease-up schedules, tenant credit risks, higher- than-expected costs and changes in general accounting principles, policies and guidelines applicable to real estate investment trusts. For further information on these and other factors that could impact the Company and the statements contained herein, reference should be made to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.

CONTACT: Sean P. O'Neill, SVP, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications, +1-312-344-4401, or Art Harmon, Senior Manager, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications, +1-312-344-4320, both of First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.