DePierro Joins Faris Lee as Managing Director

IRVINE, CA-GlobeSt.com has learned exclusively that retail-specialized investment-advisory firm Faris Lee Investments has named Chris DePierro as managing director. DePierro joins the firm with more than 21 years of experience across a number of commercial real estate disciplines, most recently as a principal.

Before joining Faris Lee, DePierro was a partner with Dana Point-based DePierro Realty Advisors, a family-owned business focused on retail-property development, brokerage and consulting. He spent 13 years with the firm, where he was involved in the development of single-tenant and multi-tenant properties, lease negotiations, asset management, construction and project management, and financing. Prior to that, he served as a retail property broker with firms including Grubb & Ellis and Pentz & Partners.

“Faris Lee has always sought to bring the highest level of transactional and financial knowledge to its work with each client and property,” says Richard Chichester, president and CEO of Faris Lee. “Chris is an important addition to the firm as his knowledge incorporates both the broker and principal sides of the business, with hands-on experience in retail property ownership, development and management. Chris's diverse, well-rounded background perfectly complements the deep pool of talent we have on our team of advisors.”

DePierro notes that he's confident his long career as an owner will be a significant and unique asset to Faris Lee and its clients. “My experience allows me to anticipate needs and confront challenges strategically and proactively because I have first-hand understanding of the principal's perspective.”

DePierro adds that he has worked with Faris Lee for 15 years as a developer and principal and has “always admired their culture and team. Time and again, they proved themselves to be forward-looking advisors and creative dealmakers for my company.”

As GlobeSt.com reported in September, post-economic crisis mortgage lenders are being extra scrupulous by evaluating both the asset to be financed and the borrower's credentials, Chichester told us during the ICSC Western Division Conference in San Diego.