08/04/2021 | by

Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE: BXMT) named Katie Keenan, BXMT's president, as CEO. She succeeds Steve Plavin, who will oversee the Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies' European platform.

CyrusOne Inc. (Nasdaq: CONE) announced the election of existing director Lynn Wentworth as chair of the board and Denise Olsen as a new member of the board. Wentworth has been a member of the board since 2014 and Olsen is senior managing director for GEM Realty Capital.

Diversified Healthcare Trust (Nasdaq: DHC) named Jennifer Francis as president and CEO. Francis has served as president and COO since 2018.

Duke Realty (NYSE: DRE) added three managers to its operating committee: Vicki Bronson, SVP of marketing; Megan Basore, VP of corporate responsibility; and Stacey Anderson, VP and director of property accounting.

The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE: GEO) said its chairman, CEO, and founder George Zoley will transition to the position of executive chairman under a new five-year employment agreement with subsequent automatic one-year renewals, while Jose Gordo has been appointed CEO. Gordo has served on GEO's board since October 2019 and has been involved in providing outside counsel to GEO for approximately 20 years.

Mack-Cali Realty Corp. (NYSE: CLI) appointed Victor MacFarlane to its board of directors. MacFarlane has more than 40 years of real estate experience across property development, acquisitions, asset management, and portfolio management. He is the chairman and CEO of MacFarlane Partners, a real estate investment management and development firm he founded in 1987.

MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE: MFA) selected Laurie Goodman as non-executive board chair. Goodman assumes the role from George Krauss, who has retired after 24 years of service as a director of MFA. Goodman has been a director of MFA since 2014.

Office Properties Income Trust (Nasdaq: OPI), a client of The RMR Group (Nasdaq: RMR), elected Jennifer Clark to its board of trustees. Clark is EVP, general counsel, and secretary of RMR and a member of its executive operating committee. She has also been a member of RMR's board since 2018.

Regency Centers Corp. (Nasdaq: REG) appointed James Simmons III as its newest board member. Simmons is currently the CEO and founding partner of Asland Capital Partners, a private equity firm.

ShopOne Centers REIT Inc. appointed Michael Makinen as COO. Prior to joining ShopOne, Makinen served as COO at SITE Centers Corp. (NYSE: SITC).

SL Green Realty Corp. (NYSE:SLG) announced the departure of David Schonbraun, chief investment officer. He is leaving to pursue new challenges after 19 years with the company.

STAG Industrial, Inc. (NYSE:STAG) promoted William Crooker to the position of president, in addition to his current positions as CFO and treasurer.

Sandeep Mathrani, a former Nareit chair, has been named to the board of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT). Mathrani is currently the CEO of WeWork Inc. Prior to WeWork, he served as the CEO of Brookfield Properties' retail group and vice chairman of Brookfield Properties.

Welltower Inc. (NYSE: WELL) appointed John Burkart as EVP and COO. Prior to joining Welltower, Burkart spent 25 years at Essex Property Trust (NYSE: ESS), most recently serving as senior EVP and COO.