Ann Brenoff succeeds Ruth Ryon as maven of the L.A. Times column on real estate that happens to be owned or leased by celebrities. Memo after the jump:

From Associate Editor Leo Wolinsky and Real Estate Editor Lauren Beale, via the Reader's Rep blog:

We are pleased to announce that Ann Brenoff will be our new Hot Property writer, continuing the long-running column created by Ruth Ryon and infusing it with energy and style. We look forward to expanding this popular feature on the Web and in other formats with her at the helm.

Ann started at The Times in 1992 as Commentary page editor for the San Diego edition. When the edition folded, she did an 18-month stint on the Valley edition's city desk before becoming an assistant op-ed editor on our editorial pages -- a job she held for 11 years. Three years ago she joined the Real Estate section as deputy editor. In addition to filling that role ably, she has enlivened the section with her engaging feature writing.

Before joining The Times, Ann held a masthead-level job at the Asbury Park (N.J.) Press. At heart, she's always been a New Jersey girl, but we won't hold that against her.