CHICAGO, July 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- EQ Office, the U.S. office portfolio company wholly-owned by Blackstone's real estate funds, announced today that Michael Knott will be joining the company as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective July 30. The appointment comes just four weeks following the company launching its new name and organizational focus on customer success: EQ OfficeSM.
"Adding Michael as part our executive leadership team deeply aligns with where we're taking the organization and our strategy," said Lisa Picard, President and CEO of EQ Office. "Michael has great rigor and financial acumen, intellectual curiosity and brings broad experience having worked with nearly every asset type. He's had a front row seat in watching our industry change for nearly 20 years and will collaborate with EQ leadership in furthering our strategies for driving value throughout our current portfolio and future investments."
As CFO, Knott will deepen the EQ mindset around financial discipline, as well as drive insights from the portfolio and the changing business environment. As EQ introduces new products, including those through new partnerships and relationships, Knott will bring creativity to understanding new value in the office market. He will also further the company's technology initiatives around predictive analytics.
"I'm truly excited to be joining EQ at such a pivotal time for the company and the industry," Knott said. "EQ is pushing the boundaries of the traditional commercial real estate industry to shape how offices can accommodate customer workspace preferences, and I look forward to helping manage the portfolio to increase value long-term."
Knott spent the last 16 years at Green Street Advisors, a leading commercial real estate and REIT research firm, and most recently served as Managing Director. Throughout his career, Knott has gained deep knowledge of many real estate segments, markets and investor types, highlighted by his significant experience analyzing the office industry. He held various leadership positions during his Green Street tenure, including co-leading the firm's overall REIT research team.
About EQ
We are EQ Office. While other real estate owners talk about square footage and floor plans, we focus on the experience; how space feels, activates and performs. At EQ, we partner with business leaders to find, design and manage balanced workspaces with the intention of helping to inspire talent. We're proud to work hand-in-hand with customers of all sizes from Fortune 100 companies to emerging startups to bring humanity back to the workplace. Our diverse team of over 200 professionals is responsible for creating inspired office environments in cities across the country including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Boston. What began as Equity Office Properties 42 years ago, now reflects a new intelligence needed to address shifting workplace needs, as EQ Office. As a U.S. office portfolio company wholly owned by Blackstone's real estate funds, we have the resources to lead the changes happening in work space. Explore your space for greatness at www.eqoffice.com.
About Blackstone
Blackstone is one of the world's leading investment firms. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies in which we invest, and the communities in which we work. We do this by using extraordinary people and flexible capital to help companies solve problems. Our asset management businesses, with $440 billion in assets under management, include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow Blackstone on twitter @Blackstone.
SOURCE EQ Office
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