WASHINGTON — The National Association of Real Estate Investment Managers (NAREIM) has named Gunnar Branson (pictured) CEO and President of the association, effective August 8, 2011.
As only the third CEO in the organization’s 20-year history, Branson brings more than 20 years of commercial real estate experience from all sides of the industry ranging from design to property management, asset management, investing and finance. He joins NAREIM from Branson Powers Inc., a business development consulting firm he founded in 2003, to help clients such as Jones Lang LaSalle, Wrightwood Capital, Fidelity Investments and Wells Fargo develop new markets and new products. Prior to this, he held positions as chief marketing officer of Heller Financial, and director of global communications at GE Capital Real Estate.
NAREIM is an association for companies engaged in the real estate investment management business, and its members manage investment capital on behalf of third party investors in commercial real estate assets. Investment sectors include office, retail, multi-family, industrial and hotels. Many of its members represent the largest institutional organizations in this marketplace. NAREIM members serve the investment goals of public and corporate pension funds, foundations, endowments, insurance companies and individuals-domestic and foreign. Collectively, they manage more than $1 trillion of real estate investment assets around the world.
“NAREIM is a great group of people that I’m pleased to be a part of,” says Branson. “Members of this organization challenge each other as the best and brightest in their respective industries, and they come from a broad base of property types, bringing investment and management practices together to advance the industry as it continues to change.”
“We are delighted to have Mr. Branson lead the NAREIM organization,” said Pat Halter, NAREIM Chairman. “We have selected a leader who has strong industry knowledge, intellect and a creative approach that will add great energy to NAREIM.”
For more information, please visit http://www.nareim.org/.
— Dan Marcec