While at Eastdil for the past seven years, Ash's responsibilities included coordinating the firm's nationwide multifamily efforts while also handling the disposition and financing of primarily office and multifamily properties in the Western US. At Sterling American, his responsibilities will include sourcing new investments and joint venture relationship opportunities in Western US. His primary focus will be on Orange County, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle.

"Transaction volume everywhere is down substantially and I had done business with Sterling and knew they wanted to open a West Coast office; they have substantial capital and are interested in aggressively putting it to work, taking advantage of the opportunities they are others see in the market going forward," Ash tells GlobeSt.com. "Their focus is on office and multifamily, the two areas I've focused on most during my career, and they wanted someone who has worked these markets, which I have my entire career. It is great fit."

Ash will report to Sterling's chief investment officer Tarak Patolia, who has heretofore been covering the West Coast on his own from New York. "David will provide Sterling a day-to-day presence in these evolving and dynamic western region markets" Patolia said in a prepared statement.