Executive Watch

Perspective

The retail sector is enjoying exceptionally strong growth, and the prognosis is excellent as the economy continues to fuel consumer demand. However, REIT and private retail owners no longer seem satisfied with the core growth of their portfolios. Their focus now is on squeezing more value out of their properties by pursuing mixed-use developments that integrate hotels, office buildings and multifamily in, on and around their properties. This is being played-out in a range of assets, from premier super-regional properties to suburban malls in transition. The trend is also fueling demand for development talent that can bring the new-product expertise to the retail team. This comes at a time when the market is already red hot for developers. However, the mall guys have a real advantage in attracting talent because they often control great sites that are prime for these strategies. It's an exceptional career play to be the product specialist in these dynamic companies.

Anthony J. LoPinto is CEO of Equinox Partners, an executive search firm specializing in the real estate industry, and parent company of SelectLeaders

The views expressed in this article are the author's own.

Job Opportunities

FIRST INDUSTRIAL REALTY TRUST INC.
(ILLINOIS) Sr. Research Analyst The ideal candidate should possess four to five years of relevant work experience and a college degree in real estate, finance, or economics. Good interpersonal communication skills, quantitative skills and a knowledge of statistics, written communication skills and a knowledge of Microsoft software are necessary.

NAIOP MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER
(MASSACHUSETTS) Marketing and Communications Coordinator The local chapter of national real estate trade association seeking qualified candidate with three years of experience in the public relations or marketing field to oversee marketing and communications activities.

HYPO REAL ESTATE CAPITAL CORP.
(NEW YORK) Transaction Manager The primary responsibilities of the TM are the underwriting and structuring of prospective transactions, preparation of credit memoranda, the performance of due diligence and, in conjunction with in-house legal and the originators, the review and negotiation of legal documentation.

ERNST & YOUNG
(TEXAS) Senior Associate The ideal candidate will possess a minimum of a bachelor's degree, master's degree preferred, in business, finance, real estate or accounting with three to six years of related work experience. On-going education and curriculum towards obtaining professional accreditations such as the MAI, CCIM, CPA, ASA, AIA, etc. is considered a plus.

JONES LANG LASALLE
(WASHINGTON) Regional Project Manager The company is currently seeking a regional project manager to join its Account Management group located in Seattle, WA. The selected candidate will be required to: execute action plans and service initiatives for an assigned geographic area; ensure the execution of the processes; and manage project managers.

EQUITY OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST
(CALIFORNIA) Senior Lease Administrator A minimum of five years of work experience in lease administration is required. Excellent oral and written communication skills are required, as is the ability to interact with company personnel at all levels.

SELECTLEADERS
(FLORIDA) Senior Project Manager The senior project manager is directly responsible for the day-to-day management and execution of the macro and micro strategic planning and execution of the project in order to ensure on-budget and on-time completion, and maintaining the firm's reputation for integrity, quality and ingenuity.

Promotions

THE ALLEN GROUP
(SAN DIEGO) Edward B. Romanov Jr. takes over as president and COO after a two-year run as a consultant. As a senior management executive, he has worked with a broad-based spectrum of public and private enterprises during his career.

CB RICHARD ELLIS
(STAMFORD, CT; PHOENIX; CHICAGO) Steven P. Bardsley in the Stamford, CT office is named senior vice president and Jason Hyams in Phoenix becomes a first vice president. In Chicago, Bradley A. Serot rises to vice president.

McSHANE CONSTRUCTION CORP.
(PHOENIX) Sean M. Tonge rises to business development manager in the western regional office. The 20-year veteran will assist with pre-construction services as part of his business development role.

COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL REALTY ADVISORS
(PHOENIX) Dan A. Paulus becomes president of CIRA North America. Other promotions go to Dennis P. Farr, now managing director in Phoenix, and Michelle Teeling, CIRA North America's new administrative manager.

COUSINS PROPERTIES
(IRVING, TX) Matt Schendle rises to vice president of leasing after working since 2001 as a leasing associate. With the promotion, Schendle is tasked with expanding the firm's third-party leasing and management portfolio in Dallas/Fort Worth.

New Hires

TRANSWESTERN COMMERCIAL SERVICES
(BETHESDA, MD) H. Peter Larson III joins as executive vice president of tenant advisory services. He most recently was managing director in Advantis' Washington, DC, Suburban Maryland and Tyson's Corner, VA offices.

PACIFIC SECURITY CAPITAL
(BEAVERTON, OR) Louis Swart takes over as president. Prior to joining the firm, he was founder and president of Wedgwood Retirement Inns in Vancouver, WA. The firm also promoted Rick Dyer to managing director of development services after joining the firm last year as a senior project manager.

KASTLE SYSTEMS
(DALLAS) Jim Tam is named vice president of southern regional sales, getting a territory that spans Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, New Mexico, Tennessee and Texas. He came over from the executive ranks of Citigroup.

NOBLE INVESTMENT GROUP
(ATLANTA) Susan E. Benshoff becomes corporate director of revenue management and Nelson F. Garrido assumes vice president of information technology. Benshoff previously worked for Wyndham International Inc. while Garrido previously worked for from Dolce International Hotels, Resorts & Conference Centers.

WRIGHTWOOD CAPITAL
(WASHINGTON, DC) Crae Ramsey joins as director of investments to focus on structured finance and other investments in the Eastern US. He was a debt and equity originator for GE Real Estate.

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Tony LoPinto is the Global Sector Leader of Korn Ferry’s Real Estate Practice and founder of SelectLeaders. For the past 18 years LoPinto has been serving his clients with deep knowledge and perspective on talent needs and organizational challenges to public and private companies – knowledge gained from a 25-year career in real estate. Prior to his current position, he founded and served as chief executive officer of a boutique real estate executive search firm, where he oversaw offices in New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, San Francisco and Los Angeles. He has successfully led several high profile search engagements for chief executive officers, directors and a wide-range of executive level positions across all industries and sectors. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in European history from Loyola University in Chicago.