Will McIntosh brings 20-plus years in the global investment management sector to his new role of global head of research for USAA Real Estate Co., based in San Antonio, TX. Before joining USAA, McIntosh served as head of global research for the real estate department of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority in Abu Dhabi. He has also held key positions at ING Real Estate Investment Management, AIG Global Real Estate Investment Corp. and Prudential Global Asset Management Group.

Christopher Bellapianta has joined Advance Realty as the director of finance and acquisitions. Based in the company's Bedminster, NJ offices, he will be responsible for sourcing, capitalizing and closing acquisitions, along with refinancing and recapitalizing of portfolio assets.

Richard Arnitz is New York City-based American Realty Capital's latest hire, joining as executive director of its broker dealer subsidiary, Realty Capital Securities. Hell direct the company's strategic sales initiatives with the goal of raising $3 billion of equity capital for two of its non-traded offerings, American Realty Capital Healthcare Trust and American Realty Capital Retail Centers of America. A 24-year financial services veteran, Arnitz was previously CEO of Grubb & Ellis Capital Corp.

Headquartered in Boise, ID, A10 Capital has hired Chuck Taylor to head up Southeast markets for the firm. Taylor spent nine years at J.P. Morgan, where he was most recently executive director of commercial real estate capital markets and co-head of its Atlanta regional office. At A10's Atlanta office, Taylor is responsible for sourcing all new commercial real estate debt and equity opportunities in the Southeast.

In Chicago, Jim Carris has joined CBRE as senior managing director and will lead the occupier practice there. He joins the firm from Jones Lang LaSalle, where he served as senior vice president in its corporate solutions group. Also in Chicago, CBRE has promoted Jamie Georgas to managing director.

William Robertson joins Cushman & Wakefield as a managing director representing clients on all aspects of real estate strategic planning, space-needs analysis, program development, design, construction and relocation. In his new role he will support the firm's brokerage group as well as the company's corporate occupier and investor services division. Robertson is based out of Los Angeles.

In a move to drive its growth strategy across the South Florida region, Douglas Elliman Florida has recruited a local superstar to its ranks. Senada Adžem has left the Corcoran Group to join the company as director to lead the Palm Beach County expansion. Adžem brings experience serving Boca Raton, Highland Beach and Delray Beach, as well as a client roster and an inventory in excess of $32 million. She is formerly the vice president of Trump International.

Kristen Faia has been promoted to regional director of operations at Equity Office Properties' Boston operations. She'll be responsible for half of Equity Office's Boston portfolio, or nearly six million square feet. The 19-year industry veteran has been with Equity Office for seven years in a variety of property management capacities, most recently as general manager.

With more than 25 years' experience working with both New York City-based Forest City Ratner Cos. and its Clevelandbased corporate parent Forest City Ratner, Kathryn Welch will take on a new role as FCRC Retail Group senior vice president. Welch assumes oversight of all FCRC's retail projects, including its 1.3-million-square-foot Ridge Hill development in Yonkers, NY.

At its Houston headquarters, Hines has begun 2012 with a pair of promotions, elevating Jesse Carrillo to senior vice president/ chief information officer and Steve Dolman to senior vice president. Carrillo has risen through the ranks at Hines since joining the firm in 1994 as a consultant. Dolman, previously a vice president with Hines, has also served the company in a variety of capacities beginning in 1991.

In Chicago, Kent Swanson has joined Newcastle Ltd. as chief financial officer. Swanson will be responsible for investor and lender relationships, overseeing the firm's debt and equity capital and driving growth and expansion of Newcastle's investment portfolio. Previously, Swanson was principal and chief financial officer at the John Buck Co.

Martin S. Burger has been named co-CEO of Silverstein Properties Inc. Burger will spearhead the Silverstein organization's ongoing expansion beyond its New York City base. He came to SPI in February 2010 from Artisan Real Estate Ventures, a company he founded in 2006, and before that spent 15 years with the Related Cos.