Spearheading MB Real Estate Advisors is Tom Rawlinson, previously a senior consultant and manager at Realogic Analytics Inc. There, he advised investment banking clients including Credit Suisse and Barclays Capital, and managed the entire real estate financing process. Prior to that, Rawlinson spent 10 years at Bank of Montreal, where he was responsible for originating, underwriting, and executing commercial real estate debt and equity investments, as well as managing the bank's US construction lending portfolio.

"No one can lead our strategic advisory business better than Tom," says Peter Ricker, chairman and CEO of MB Real Estate. "We needed someone with an entrepreneurial spirit and direct experience managing clients' critical functions. Tom will leverage his diverse background to give our clients top-tier consulting services."

The division will provide investment analysis, due diligence, market research and analysis, capital markets advisory, construction advisory and transaction management services. Although MB has provided advisory services for years, Tom Rawlinson, vice president and director of investment services, says company clients have asked the company to take it a step further and provide "full-scale strategic consulting when they need to call in the 'special forces' for their real estate investments."