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CHICAGO-Raymond M. Braun, who oversaw acquisitions and dispositions for Great Lakes REIT, has joined CB Richard Ellis Inc. as senior vice president of the company's office investment properties group. Since the suburban office REIT was acquired last year by Transwestern Investment Co., Braun has been managing principal of Previse Capital Management in Rosemont, which he co-founded.

CB Richard Ellis' office investment properties group already includes senior vice presidents William Novelli, Tony Smaniotto and Mike Vesper, as well as first vice president Mark Hellwig. Braun's new role will focus on selling major office properties and corporate portfolios.

In addition to acquiring 7.5 million sf of office space in the Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee and Minneapolis suburbs as chief investment officer for Great Lakes REIT, Braun's track record includes closing 98% of the properties he put under contract. "He brings extensive investment management experience and a proven track record," says CB Richard Ellis managing director Jeffrey Barrett.