8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  February 17, 2016

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Commission File Number:  001-34626

Maryland	58-2328421
(State or other jurisdiction of	(IRS Employer
incorporation)	Identification No.)

11695 Johns Creek Parkway

Suite 350

Johns Creek, GA 30097-1523

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

770-418-8800

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ]   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02.    Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

(d) Appointment of Kelly H. Barrett as Director

On February 17, 2016, the Board of Directors of Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. (the "Registrant") appointed Kelly H. Barrett to serve as a director of the Registrant beginning on March 1, 2016.

Ms. Barrett will serve as a member of the Audit Committee. Her compensation as a director will be provided on the same basis as that provided to the Registrant's other non-employee directors, described on pages 38 and 39 of the Registrant's most recent Annual Proxy Statement as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 24, 2015, which description is incorporated herein by reference.

The press release issued by the Registrant on February 17, 2016 announcing Ms. Barrett's appointment is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01.    Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits:

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release dated February 17, 2016 announcing the appointment of Kelly H. Barrett to Piedmont Office Realty Trust's Board of Directors

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc.
Date: February 17, 2016	By:	/s/    Robert E. Bowers
		Robert E. Bowers
		Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release dated February 17, 2016 announcing the appointment of Kelly H. Barrett to Piedmont Office Realty Trust's Board of Directors

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Kelly H. Barrett to Join Piedmont Office Realty Trust’s Board of Directors

Atlanta, GA - February 17, 2016 - Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:PDM) announced today that Kelly H. Barrett, Vice-President of Internal Audit and Corporate Compliance for The Home Depot, will join the Company’s Board of Directors beginning March 1, 2016.

“We are excited to welcome Kelly to the Piedmont Board,” commented Michael R. Buchanan, Chairman of the Board. “She brings over 30 years of leadership and financial management experience to the Board. As a former member of NAREIT’s Accounting Committee and Best Financial Practices Council and former financial officer in the real estate industry, she is well qualified to provide oversight and guidance for Piedmont and a perfect fit for our Audit Committee.”

Ms. Barrett has been employed by The Home Depot since 2003, serving in various roles including Vice President-Corporate Controller and Senior Vice President of Enterprise Program Management prior to assuming her current role of Vice-President of Internal Audit and Corporate Compliance. Prior to her employment by The Home Depot, Ms. Barrett was employed by Cousins Properties Incorporated for eleven years in various financial roles, ultimately including that of Senior Vice President-Chief Financial Officer. During that time, she was very active in the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) as an Accounting Committee Co-Chairperson and member of the Best Financial Practices Council as well as the Real Estate Group of Atlanta.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms. Barrett said, “I am pleased to be joining the Piedmont Board in March. As a former CFO of an office REIT, I appreciate the hard work that the Piedmont team has undertaken in recent years to strategically position its portfolio while maintaining an excellent balance sheet. I look forward to contributing to the Company’s continued success.”

About Piedmont:

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: PDM) is an owner, manager, developer, and operator of high-quality, Class A office properties located in select sub-markets of major U.S. cities. Its geographically-diversified, over $5 billion portfolio is comprised of approximately 20 million square feet. The Company is a fully-integrated, self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) with local management offices in each of its major markets and is investment-grade rated by Standard & Poor’s (BBB) and Moody’s (Baa2). For more information, see www.piedmontreit.com.

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Contact:

Kerry Hughes

+1 770 418 8678

kerry.hughes@piedmontreit.com