Deloitte Appoints Robert O'Brien to Global Real Estate Role

NEW YORK, March 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL) announced today that Robert T. O'Brien has been appointed to lead its global real estate group.  O'Brien, a vice chairman with Deloitte in the United States, will also continue as the U.S. real estate leader.

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In his DTTL role, O'Brien will focus on sharing emerging trends and best practices with the network of member firms around the globe to help ensure a consistently high level of client-service excellence worldwide. Backed by a 10-member Global Real Estate Executive Committee, O'Brien will work with the member firms to develop regional teams in emerging markets, enhance service programs for Deloitte's largest global clients, and leverage its deep industry expertise across consulting, tax, audit, enterprise risk and financial advisory services.  O'Brien will work closely with Chris Harvey, Global Lead, Financial Services Industry, DTTL.

"To capture growth in the next few years, many major real estate players are diversifying their portfolios across geographic markets and asset classes. As the economic recovery matures, we are seeing an increase in cross-border capital flows in the real estate industry," said O'Brien.  "Investment activity in emerging markets is strong.  The dramatic flight to quality in the developed markets is now leading to favorable opportunities in secondary and tertiary locations," he said.  "Further, around the world we see commercial real estate leaders getting more active in capturing the benefits of technological innovation, like cloud computing and advanced analytics, to drive business decisions and maintain a competitive edge." 

O'Brien's background, spanning 29 years, includes significant global client relationships, initial public offerings, acquisitions, dispositions, workouts and bankruptcies.  He has advised some of the largest public real estate investment trusts, private equity real estate funds and hospitality clients. 

"Real estate continues to evolve as a global industry," said Chris Harvey.  "With a strong presence in every major financial center and emerging market around the world, Deloitte's real estate practices offer clients an entry to a global network with the 'on- the-ground-expertise' so vital to real estate."

O'Brien has been the U.S. member firm's real estate practice leader for three years.  Prior to that he served as the U.S. member firm's audit and enterprise risk management leader for its real estate practice, as well as Deloitte's global real estate funds initiative leader.

O'Brien joined the Deloitte U.S. firm in 1983 upon graduation from John Carroll University with bachelors of science in accounting.  In 1989, he earned a MBA in finance with highest honors from Northwestern University's J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, with a concentration in real estate and international business.  He is a CPA and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.  He serves as a Board Associate of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, and is a Trustee and Foundation Governor for the Urban Land Institute. 

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.

Deloitte provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. With a globally connected network of member firms in more than 150 countries, Deloitte brings world-class capabilities and high-quality service to clients, delivering the insights they need to address their most complex business challenges. Deloitte has in the region of 200,000 professionals, all committed to becoming the standard of excellence.

SOURCE Deloitte