David Helfand, Co-President, Equity Group Investments
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
As Co-President of EGI, David Helfand oversees all aspects of the firm and devotes a substantial amount of his time to the Zell Opportunities Funds. He has worked with EGI founder Sam Zell for more than 24 years in a variety of capacities. Mr. Helfand also is President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Equity Commonwealth, one of the country’s largest commercial office real estate investment trusts.
Mr. Helfand founded Helix Funds and, as president, oversaw the acquisition, management and disposition of more than $2.2 billion in real estate assets. He also served as Chief Executive Officer for Helix portfolio company American Residential Communities.
Mr. Helfand served as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for Equity Office Properties Trust, the largest REIT in the U.S., where he led more than $13 billion of mergers and acquisitions activity. Prior to Equity Office, Mr. Helfand served as a Managing Director and participated in the formation of Equity International, a private investment firm focused on real estate-related companies outside of the United States.
He also held the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc., a manufactured home community REIT, and for years following his tenure, he continued to serve on the company’s board of directors. Prior to Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc., Mr. Helfand focused on a variety of asset classes including retail, office, parking, and multifamily.
Mr. Helfand holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University.
He is a Director of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, serves on the Executive Committee of the Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center at the Wharton School and is a member of the Board of Visitors at the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University.
