Roll the Dice

Roll the Dice - 08.17.2010
I have had a surprising number of senior execs visiting my office over the past few months to ask my opinion on the advisability of quitting a current job to provide more time to find their next career opportunity. Aside from an urge to say “Are you a knucklehead?” I restrain myself and reflect that some C-suite execs have successfully pulled off the strategy. For example, in November 2009 Chris Liddell (reportedly) stepped down, on his own accord, as CFO of Microsoft to pursue a new opportunity, and, all of a sudden, GM hired him early in 2010 to become the company’s finance chief. I am not sure that I buy that storyline. Nevertheless, if you are in a chair, stay there, and hunt from there. Don’t roll the dice. There is zero margin in this market.

Tony LoPinto is a senior client partner and head of Korn//Ferry International’s Real Estate Practice and founder of SelectLeaders. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own.

COSTAR GROUP
Account Executive
(SALT LAKE CITY) CoStar’s account executive is responsible for growing revenue through the sales of the firm's marketing and information products to subscribers and non-subscribers within a specific geographic territory and, managing an existing book of business.

THE PALMER TEAM
Capital Markets Partner
(SACRAMENTO) A successful candidate will be responsible for underwriting, marketing, structuring debt and equity, and the management of client relationships.

VIRGIN ISLAND PORT AUTHORITY
General Manager Crown Bay District
(ST. THOMAS, VIRGIN ISLANDS) The Virgin Islands Port Authority seeks a general manager to be responsible for all aspects of property management for the Crown Bay District (CBD) including the 55,000-square-foot, mixed-use Crown Bay Center (CBC) and Austin Monsanto cruise terminal.

WOLLBORG/MICHELSON
Senior Accountant/Financial Analyst
(TORRANCE, CA) The firm, located in downtown Los Angeles, is looking to hire a senior accountant/financial analyst. This prestigious company owns, acquires, develops and manages primarily office, as well as mixed-use and residential properties on a nationwide basis.

HEALTHCARE REALTY TRUST
Director of Leasing
(SAN ANTONIO) The firm is hiring a director of leasing based in San Antonio. This position will be responsible for all leasing activity for a portfolio of medical office properties in San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, Kansas City and St. Louis.

NEW YORK CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP.
Senior Project Manager
(NEW YORK CITY) The senior project manager will work to develop the New York City economy, shape its built environment and make the City more business friendly by overseeing and managing real estate development and financing transactions.

REIT MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH
Asset Manager
(WATERTOWN, MA) The asset manager will monitor, analyze and report on the performance and operations of a portfolio of primarily office and industrial properties for several regions.

No more than one submission per company will be considered per week.
Submissions with multiple names will be capped at three for coverage in Executive Watch.

MARK ONE CAPITAL
(SAN DIEGO) Mark One Capital has named Geoffrey D. Harris to the position of vice president capital markets. Most recently, Harris held the position of senior director.

No more than one submission per company will be considered per week.
Submissions with multiple names will be capped at three for coverage in Executive Watch.

BEECH STREET CAPITAL
(BETHESDA, MD) Beech Street Capital announced that Brian Sykes has joined the firm as vice president of loan origination. Prior to joining Beech Street Capital, Sykes was with Deutsche Bank Berkshire Mortgage for 10 years.

BDO CONSULTING
(NEW YORK CITY) BDO Consulting, one of the nation’s leading professional service organizations, announced it is increasing its focus on real estate advisory services with the addition of Richard S. Hauer as managing director in the New York office. Prior to joining BDO Consulting, Hauer was the president of the real estate unit of an international turnkey asset management, disposition and appraisal company.