Michael Pralle likes building things, like turning GE RealEstate into a global real estate investment and finance powerhousewith $77 billion of assets under management. A medley of his hitsas president and CEO would have to include the $2.2-billionpurchase of 147 Crow Holdings assets and the purchase of ArdenRealty for $4.8 billion. But Pralle is ready for new challenges,and in one of his first interviews since taking on the position ofpresident and COO of JE Robert Cos.–he was ensconced for only threeweeks when we tracked him down–he talks about the GE departure andlegacy and explains where he would like to take JER.

GlobeSt.com: So, were you looking?

Pralle: I had been at GE for 18 years, and a yearago, I began to think about pursuing a more entrepreneurialopportunity in the private equity world. I considered going out onmy own and raising a fund, but that would require working capitaland would take a certain amount of time to build a globalinvestment business. And that's what I wanted. That's what I hadbuilt at GE. I concluded it was better for me to go to a platformthat already had traction, and JE Robert already had significanthistory and significant platforms in Europe and the US. Also, itwas building a presence in Russia and Latin America. It had createdsome very good platforms and a gold-plated list of investors thatwould enable the firm over the next five to 10 years to become moreof a global investment firm. Given my background and track record,I thought I could help.