SEATTLE and LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstService Real Estate Advisors today announced the appointment of 25-year veteran Mike Kent as the president of its U.S. property management division. This is the second in a series of steps designed to elevate FirstService Real Estate Advisors ("FirstService REA") to one of the top three commercial real estate service companies globally and follows the recent hiring of Dylan E. Taylor, as president of its U.S. operations. Kent will report directly to Taylor and will be based in Los Angeles.
In his new role, Kent will oversee all U.S. commercial real estate management services. One of his top priorities will be to target institutional property owners and investors who require the more specialized and integrated real estate services offered by FirstService REA.
"Mike has deep industry relationships and has a reputation for considered judgment and creativity in property and asset management," said Taylor. "Like their corporate counterparts, institutional real estate owners and fund managers are looking for fully integrated services delivered by experienced professionals who can help drive value to existing portfolios. To be an industry leader in this sector, you must have a world-class real estate management services organization and Mike is the ideal person to lead our team."
"FirstService REA is perfectly positioned to provide the entire spectrum of services needed by today's property owners - whether they are corporations, partnerships, families or institutional investors," said Kent. "FirstService REA possesses extraordinary professional talent, with local knowledge and global reach, providing an unparalleled opportunity to build the premier property and asset management firm in the U.S., that I find extremely exciting. I look forward to leading the U.S. effort and working with our teams internationally."
With more than 25 years of experience in the real estate management and leasing industry, Kent began his career with another major real estate services firm in Southern California specializing in office and industrial leasing. In 1995, he joined RREEF as a leasing specialist and in 2004 was named Managing Director in charge of all Leasing and Property Management operations overseeing more than 80 offices nationwide. At RREEF, Kent also served on the Investment Committee, overseeing all acquisitions, dispositions and debt transactions; the Management Committee setting strategy, policy and procedures for the organizations' North American operations; and on the Eco-Operations Committee which was responsible for operational strategies related to greening real estate investments.
Kent is a member of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). He also serves on BOMA International's National Advisory Council. He received his B.S. degree in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1984. He holds a California Real Estate License.
About FirstService Real Estate Advisors
FirstService Real Estate Advisors (FirstService REA) is the emerging leader in the global professional services industry. As the fastest growing and fourth largest commercial real estate services firm in the world, FirstService REA has strategically integrated industry leading service providers in key areas of specialization to deliver consistent and measurable results for occupiers, developers and investors in real estate. FirstService REA operates in 37 countries around the world. In North America, FirstService REA provides services through the leading real estate brands; FirstService REA, Colliers International, FirstService Williams, PGP Valuation, PKF Hospitality, and MHPM Project Leaders.
About FirstService Corporation
FirstService Corporation (Nasdaq: FSRV - News; TSX: FSV - News and FSV.PR.U - News) is a global diversified leader in the rapidly growing property services sector, providing services in the following three areas: commercial real estate, residential property management; and property services. The industry-leading service platform includes: FirstService Real Estate Advisors, the fourth largest global player in commercial real estate services; FirstService Residential Management, the largest manager of residential communities in North America; and TFC, North America's largest provider of property services through franchise and contractor networks.
FirstService generates more than US$1.7 billion in annualized revenues and has more than 18,000 employees worldwide. More information about FirstService is available at www.firstservice.com.
For further information please contact:
Richard Mulieri, Russ Colchamiro
The Marino Organization
Tel: 212-889-0808
Email: richard@themarino.org, russ@themarino.org
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