Retail real estate firm appoints new CEO

O’Connor Capital Partners, a privately owned, independent real estate investment, development and management firm, has named Glenn J. Rufrano as chairman and CEO.



Rufrano was a founding partner of the O’Connor Group, the firm’s original incarnation, and has served on the board since 2010. He has also acquired a full partnership stake in the firm.



“We are thrilled to have Glenn rejoin our company,” said Bill O’Connor, president and COO of O’Connor Capital Partners. “Not only does he possess a deep knowledge of our firm and our industry, but he also shares a common set of values and beliefs that has served the company well since its founding 30-plus years ago.”



Rufrano began his career with Landauer Associates. His previous 17-year tenure with the O’Connor Group, which began in 1983, culminated with his positions as president and COO and as co-chairman of the Peabody Group, which was sponsored jointly with J.P Morgan. Between 2000 and 2007 he was CEO of New Plan Excel Realty Trust, and subsequently he led Australian-based Centro Properties Group as its CEO. In 2010, Mr. Rufrano was named CEO of Cushman & Wakefield, a position he held until earlier this year.



In addition to his past corporate executive roles, Rufrano formerly served on the boards of Trizec Properties, Criimi Mae and General Growth Properties. He currently serves on the board of directors of Ventas, a leading healthcare real estate investment trust, and also on the nonprofit health and social services agency, New Alternatives for Children. He is on the advisory boards of New York University’s Real Estate Institute and Baruch College and is a trustee and member of the International Council of Shopping Centers. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Rutgers University and his MSc in management and real estate from Florida International University.



Mr. Rufrano’s return to a chief executive role at O’Connor Capital Partners comes as the firm is growing and increasing its presence in both the retail and residential sectors. The firm currently has approximately $3.5 billion of assets under management. The retail platform currently manages approximately 14 million sq. ft. of properties, including 3 million sq. ft. in Mexico. In the past three years, the firm has invested $1.7 billion gross in retail properties ranging from high street retail to Class A malls. Its most recent high-profile investment came earlier this year when it acquired a large joint venture interest in a portfolio of six malls owned in partnership with the Westfield Group.

Rufrano joins Bill O’Connor and a senior executive team that includes former General Growth Properties executive Joel Bayer as head of the retail team and Brian Fallon as head of development and residential product.



“I am very excited about joining O’Connor Capital Partners full-time as both CEO and a partner,” said Rufrano. “This is a firm with a proud legacy, an extremely strong management team and a great future.”