NEW YORK CITY – The Top Industry Newsmaker over the past 10 years is Vornado Realty Trust Chairman Steven Roth, who garnered 51% of the vote in a Globest.com survey.

Starwood Capital Group chairman and CEO Barry Sternlicht finished in second place with 41%, followed closely by Blackstone Group CEO Steven Schwartzman in third at 36%. The survey was conducted in conjunction with Globest.com’s 10^th anniversary.

Roth was the CEO of the office and retail REIT for 28 years (1981-2009) stepping down last year to be replaced by current president and CEO Michael D. Fascitelli. Roth is also the co-founder and managing general partner of Interstate Properties and chairman and CEO of Alexander's, Inc.

Survey respondents used glowing real estate adjectives to describe the survey’s top two vote getters. One real estate executive stated that to term Roth as “audacious would be an understatement.” Another said of the Vornado chairman, “still making mega deals after all these years.”

Sternlicht was tabbed as “a true player” for his investments at Starwood Capital and formerly with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, while another real estate executive shared that Sternlicht makes “shrewd investments in a higher risk category.”

Rounding out the other finishers were: David Simon, chairman and CEO of Simon Property Group (No. 4); Fannie Mae president and CEO Michael J. Williams (No. 5): Freddie Mac CEO Charles Haldeman Jr. (No. 6); Michael Sarkozi, senior managing director, JP Morgan Chase (No. 7); Stephen L. Green, founder of SL Green Realty (No. 8); Mary Ann Tighe, CEO of the New York-Tri State Region of CB Richard Ellis (No. 9); and Jeff DeBoer, president of the Real Estate Roundtable (No. 10).

Tomorrow: Look for the results of the Globest.com survey “Top 10 Business Newsmakers.”

Instant Insights /

Vornado&#146;s Roth Named Top Industry Newsmaker of Decade

Related Stories

Recommended For You

Vornados Roth Named Top Industry Newsmaker of Decade