Henry Joins Pluris Valuation Advisors

NEWPORT BEACH, CA-New York-based Pluris Valuation Advisors LLC has hired Steven D. Henry as VP in its Newport Beach office. Henry is a nationally recognized expert in valuing complex real estate.

Henry has valued commercial portfolios with estimated values up to $15 billion that include some of the best-known properties in Southern California. He has experience valuing complex real estate that ranges from one of the largest malls in the West Coast to 2,600 miles of railroad right-of-way.

He also adds to the firm's expertise in portfolio valuation and estate and gift-tax valuation, having completed valuations of assets for homebuilding companies, a portfolio of master-planned subdivisions containing more than 30,000 units and an apartment portfolio containing more than 20,000 units.

In his new role, Henry will help develop the Newport Beach office. He brings experience building teams, managing large engagements and working with financial modeling.

“I was attracted to Pluris by the firm's growing reputation, and especially by its expertise valuing complex assets,” says Henry. “Pluris' highly experienced senior managers and its access to high-quality empirical data position the firm well for continuing growth. I'm pleased to be part of the Pluris team.”

Before joining the firm, Henry served as managing director of the Los Angeles office of Lee &Associates in Irvine, where he was responsible for preparing real estate appraisals, feasibility studies, rent analyses and market studies of commercial property in the Los Angeles area. Lee & Associates declined to comment on Henry's new appointment.

According to Espen Robak, president of Pluris, “With our newly formed real estate appraisal group, we are now well positioned to expand our service offerings to our existing estate and gift-tax and portfolio valuation clients.”

Kyle Vataha, VP and head of the Newport Beach office, adds that with Henry's “two decades of experience preparing real estate appraisals, feasibility studies, rent analysis and market studies, Steve brings added depth to our team. Since he's licensed in most major markets, Steve will help us expand not only in California, but nationally.”

Other New York firms are bolstering their California-based valuation teams as well. As GlobeSt.com reported earlier this week, New York City-based Situs, a global provider of commercial real estate advisory services and integrated process and technology solutions, has expanded its West Coast presence, providing clients in the region with its full suite of CRE products and bank advisory offerings. Leading Situs' efforts in the target region is long-time industry veteran Eric Smith, who has been named business development leader. In addition to developing new business opportunities, in this newly created role, Smith will work with the firm's clients in such areas as liquidity, valuation, capital, financing, servicing and investment. Based in Situs' San Francisco office, Smith will report to Kenneth Segal, head of Situs' Bank and Loan Advisory Group, and Eric Lindner, Executive Managing Director and Head of Situs' global servicing businesses.