BOSTON-Industry veteran Charles B. Leitner has been named president of Berkshire Group, headquartered here. Formerly global head at RREEF, Leitner will oversee day-to-day on Berkshire's funds management as well as its entity-level investment business. He'll report to George Krupp, who co-founded the company with brother Douglas in 1969 and serves as its CEO.

“Berkshire has a strong reputation as one of the industry's most experienced investment and operating platforms with an exceptional team of professionals,” says Leitner. “I look forward to joining with the Krupps as well as David Olney, Larry Ellman, and our other leaders to enhance Berkshire's platform and services further, helping drive performance on behalf of our clients.”

Krupp says the company will “continue to concentrate on funds management in the multifamily sector and invest in real estate operating companies at the entity-level, while prudently expanding its business over time as part of a carefully considered strategic plan.” Bringing Leitner aboard, he says, “adds to our executive team and provides exceptional leadership experience as we look to evolve and augment investment management services” to its growing base of institutional clients.

In a 24-year career with RREEF, Leitner helped build it into a leading real estate investment advisor with $80 billion in assets under management. He became global head of RREEF after Deutsche Bank acquired it in 2002.

More recently, Leitner headed the ULI Greenprint Center, a nonprofit global alliance of real estate investors committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower energy consumption while enhancing value in property portfolios. “More than just a social responsibility perspective, they believe more and more that [sustainability] is an important component of long-term value creation and retention,” he told GlobeSt.com in 2011.

Berkshire owns and manages more than 30,000 apartment units in its nationwide portfolios and manages three multifamily funds for 51 pension funds and other institutional clients. Its venture capital group holds stakes in hospitality, medical office and senior living companies. It also owns an externally advised multifamily REIT, Berkshire Income Realty.