The Consulting Report is pleased to announce The Top 25 Real Estate Consultants and Leaders of 2022. The executives on this year’s list represent some of the most knowledgeable and experienced individuals across the real estate industry. They provide their firms with the leadership and expertise necessary to best serve their wide array of clients in solving the most challenging real estate situations, ultimately helping to position them for continued growth and success.
Ben Dimson of McKinsey uses his extensive background in the property lifecycle, as well as in advanced analytics and innovation, to provide companies with the best opportunities created by digital disruption. At Bain, Emmet Gaffney has introduced innovative ideas into real estate from other industries, supporting a wide variety of real estate executives and helping to drive large scale transformations. And at Accenture, which is known for transforming real estate finance and accounting operations, Anna Jastrzebska has played a pivotal role as Global Commercial Real Estate Lead in the development of, among other innovations, Accenture’s real estate services platform while overseeing more than 1,500 professionals.
This year’s awardees come from a variety of firms, from global consultancies like Accenture and McKinsey, to smaller boutique consultancies, to a real estate firm and a law firm. What they have in common is the unparalleled insight they provide to their clients in the real estate industry, whether that be in advisory work, technological integration, sustainability, or any of a number of other specialties. Please join us in celebrating The Top 25 Real Estate Consultants and Leaders of 2022.
1. Ben Dimson
Company: McKinsey & Company
Title: Partner, Real Estate
Ben Dimson leads the European Real Estate practice at McKinsey & Company, where he advises organizations on a wide range of real estate topics, including strategy, organization, transformation, digital & analytics, and sustainability. He enjoys serving institutions from across the value chain, from proptechs through to governments, helping them navigate unprecedented change. His role covers both real estate as an industry and real estate as a function. He additionally acts as a diversity & inclusion ally for minority groups within the firm.
Prior to McKinsey, Dimson spent almost a decade at British Land, one of Europe’s leading Real Estate Investment Trusts. As head of business development, he led a diverse range of teams and ran major change initiatives spanning advanced analytics, technology, commercialization, and operations. As a strategy executive, he set and implemented a broad array of initiatives, from strategic planning to corporate finance. Dimson holds a Master of Business Administration with distinction from London Business School and a Master of Arts in economics & management from the University of Oxford.
2. Emmet Gaffney
Company: Bain & Company
Title: Senior Partner and North American Lead, Real Estate
Emmet Gaffney leads Bain & Company’s North American Real Estate Practice. He is also active within the Sustainability and Responsibility practice area for Bain. Founded in 1973, Bain is one of the “Big Three” American management consulting firms, advising Fortune 500 companies on issues such as private equity investments, mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy, finance, operations, and market analysis. With nearly 18,000 employees in 63 offices in 38 countries around the world, Bain is regularly recognized as a top workplace by Glassdoor and Consulting Magazine.
Based in the firm’s Chicago office, Gaffney has worked extensively across real estate sectors on a range of issues including strategy, operations, operating model transformation, revenue management, sustainability, and M&A diligence. With over 18 years at Bain, he has supported real estate executives from REITs, developers, real estate service providers, and funds to tackle challenges within real estate and to drive large scale transformations. He is passionate about helping clients deliver on their growth aspirations and introducing innovative ideas into real estate from other industries. Gaffney holds degrees in economics and computer science from Vassar College and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
3. Anna Jastrzebska
Company: Accenture
Title: Managing Director and Global Commercial Real Estate Lead
Anna Jastrzebska is the global lead for Accenture’s commercial real estate practice. With more than 20 years’ experience in the industry, she is committed to helping real estate and financial services companies transform their finance and accounting operations. Her priority is to bring together data & analytics, technology such as AI, and deep industry expertise to help real estate firms operate more intelligently, efficiently, and accurately – and to generate greater value.
Her passion for the property business and her drive to innovate has made Jastrzebska a prominent leader in the sector. She played a pivotal role in the development of Accenture’s real estate services platform, and today oversees a group of more than 1,500 professionals who provide a range of services – including lease administration, property accounting, and asset management – to many of the world’s largest industry players. Jastrzebska has a Master of Business Administration from the Wroclaw University of Technology. She participates frequently in industry forums, and has delivered many presentations on women in leadership to share her story and motivate future leaders of diversity.
4. Dan Bassett
Company: Slalom
Title: Senior Director, Real Estate and Investment Management
A standout in his field when it comes to investment and technology solutions, Dan Bassett has been Senior Director of Slalom’s Real Estate and Investment Management department for 11 years. In his tenure with this global consulting firm, Bassett has helped steer Slalom’s data strategy and business operations and transformation services in more than 40 worldwide markets. Bassett’s experience extends to a wide variety of industries, offering connections and solutions for executives working in life sciences, real estate, and banking, among others.
Bassett began his career in investment leadership working as a financial planning analyst for Teradata, a position he left to join the Chicago team at Accenture as a consultant. With Accenture, Bassett leveraged his considerable expertise in the fields of pharmaceuticals and medical products to direct the firm’s business ventures in these areas. Bassett holds a Bachelor of Science in economics, leadership & finance from the University of Dayton and earned a Foundational Leadership Program certificate from Stagen Leadership Academy.
5. Tyler Horton
Company: Alvarez & Marsal
Title: Managing Director
In his capacity as Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal Taxand, Tyler Horton works to advise public clients and business entities alike in the intricacies of private equity and real estate investment. Among his areas of specialization are flow-through entities such as S-corporations and other organization partnerships. Horton has particular expertise in tax reporting and preparation, having guided clients through IRS audits, estate tax planning, and all tax matters related to the acquisition and disposition of operating companies.
Before starting at Alvarez & Marsal in 2004, Horton worked in the real estate and financial services group of Washington, D.C.-based firm Arthur Andersen. He also worked as a manager for a boutique real estate tax consulting firm. In addition to being a Certified Public Accountant in Virginia, Horton holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the College of William and Mary.
6. Ouriel Lancry
Company: Bain & Company
Title: Partner and Digital Transformation Officer
A Partner in Bain & Company’s Chicago office, Ouriel Lancry is the leader of the company’s Strategy practice and its global real estate projects. With more than three decades of executive experience with Bain, Lancry spearheads the firm’s global digital practice and digital transformation, and has sat on Bain’s board of directors for four years. During his tenure with the company, Lancry has overseen groundbreaking accomplishments such as Bain’s recent expansion throughout Europe and new partnerships in key Asian markets.
In addition to his current duties with his company, Lancry previously worked in Bain’s offices in Europe and the Americas, providing business transformation services for tech-forward companies and demonstrating great vision in model redesign and cost reduction offerings for the firm’s clients. The previous head of Bain’s overall strategy practice in North and South America, Lancry now uses his considerable experience in business transformation to lead consulting ventures. Lancry holds a degree from the ESSEC School of Management in Paris.
7. Peter Nündel
Company: Capgemini
Title: Head of Real Estate Strategy and Asset Management
Peter Nündel is Head of Real Estate Strategy and Asset Management for European IT services and consulting titan Capgemini. Nündel has consistently demonstrated remarkable insight as a leader in his post with Capgemini, spearheading the company’s efforts to lead the industry in environmental sustainability and waste reduction. His management has contributed to remarkable results for Capgemini despite troubled markets, with the company announcing continual advancements in AI and digital engineering while posting more than €18 billion in revenue last year.
Prior to his current position at Capgemini, Nündel served the company for more than a decade as the head of controlling and shared services. Nündel also has experience in executive positions with both Wistec GmbH and ixos Software AG. Nündel earned an undergraduate degree in business administration from VWA Munich.
8. Lennert Middelkoop
Company: Deloitte
Title: Partner, Real Estate; Future of Mobility Leader, Deloitte NL
Lennert Middelkoop is a Partner in the Deloitte Real Estate business and Leader of Deloitte NL’s Infrastructure, Mobility & Regional Growth and Future of Mobility practices. Middelkoop joined the Deloitte team in August 2019, bringing with him over 20 years of experience as a consultant, manager, and leader. As an executive, Middelkoop specializes in healthy urbanization, transition and change management, public-private ecosystems and partnerships, innovation, and complex decision-making processes.
On top of his duties at Deloitte, Middelkoop serves on numerous non-profit boards. This includes the ULI Netherlands Executive Committee, the Supervisory Board of ROM Region Utrecht, and the Architects Registration Bureau (Bureau Architectenregister) in the Netherlands. He began his career as a policy advisor for VVD in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Today, he also publishes and speaks about leadership in urbanization and government. He holds a degree in business administration and a Master of Public Administration, both from Erasmus University Rotterdam.
9. Craig Hughes
Company: The Instant Group
Title: Chief Executive Officer, Partnerships
After nearly 10 years with PwC, Craig Hughes has joined The Instant Group as Chief Executive Officer, Partnerships, where he will help landlords and operators capture the huge demand for flexible space. The real estate industry veteran will be using the company’s full range of capabilities and data to enable the industry’s successful transition to a greater proportion of flex and virtual solutions alongside their traditional offerings. Headquartered in London, The Instant Group helps create future-proof, agile, corporate real estate strategies for its clients, including American Express, Jaguar Land Rover, and GSK. The firm has been rethinking workspaces since 1999 and currently employs more than 500 experts working globally across more than 175 countries.
Previously, Hughes was the Global Real Estate Leader for PwC, a company he served for almost a decade. He also worked for PwC UK as a regional real estate leader. He holds a Bachelor of Science with honors in mathematics from Cardiff University.
10. Tracey Lange
Company: Cognizant
Title: Vice President and Global Head of Real Estate
Since November 2021, Tracey Lange has served as Vice President and Global Head of Real Estate for Cognizant, one of the largest and highest performing IT consulting companies in the world. Well-respected in her field and with over three decades of professional experience, there is never a boring day in the office for Lange. At Cognizant, she is responsible for developing, managing, and leading all global real estate and facilities activities across the $40+ billion company.
Lange, who is consistently profiled in Midwest Real Estate News as a “Powerful Woman in Real Estate," previously spent over twenty years serving in senior and executive positions at Unisys and Welsh Companies. Before that, she began her career as an asset manager for Equity Holdings; during her 10-year tenure there, she was responsible for the management of assets and property valued at approximately $300 million. In 2011, she received “The Circle of Excellence Award” for sustained achievement. She has also been recognized twice by Finance and Commerce as one of the "Top Women in Finance."
11. Mark Grinis
Company: EY
Title: EY Americas Real Estate, Hospitality & Construction Leader
As the EY Americas Real Estate, Hospitality & Construction Leader, Mark Grinis is involved in managing the firm’s $2 billion real estate business, which encompasses more than 17,000 professionals worldwide. A company veteran, Grinis has been with EY since 1995, following a decade as an auditor at Kenneth Leventhal & Co. Over his lengthy career, he has served as lead advisor on more than $50 billion in transactions.
Prior to his current role at EY, he served in numerous leadership positions within the company, including in the real estate private equity practice and the M&A and restructuring group, and as central region practice leader, as transaction real estate practice leader, and as Asia real estate practice leader. Grinis received his Bachelor of Arts in economics and accounting from Claremont McKenna College. He is also a licensed CPA in New York and a member of the AICPA. Noted for his skills as an author and speaker, Grinis has been a featured guest on Bloomberg, CNBC, Fox News, and NBC Nightly News.
12. Jahn Brodwin
Company: FTI Consulting
Title: Senior Managing Director and Co-Leader of Real Estate Solutions
Jahn Brodwin is Senior Managing Director and Co-Leader of Real Estate Solutions for FTI Consulting, a global business advisory firm with more than 6,900 employees located in 30 countries. Founded in 1982, FTI Consulting is one of the largest financial advisory firms in the world, serving clients in an array of industries including aerospace, construction, life sciences, and private equity. In his current role, Brodwin specializes in advising the firm's public and private clients on debt and equity transactions, real estate acquisitions, and due diligence.
A veteran of FTI Consulting, Brodwin boasts more than 30 years of experience in broad-based financial, accounting, and SEC matters. He joined the firm in 1998 as a partner, ascending to senior managing director in 2008 and his current role in 2022. Previously, he was a senior manager at EY. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the State University of New York at Old Westbury.
13. Santiago Ferrer
Company: BCG
Title: Managing Director and Partner
Santiago Ferrer is Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). With special insight into business strategy and organizational design, Ferrer assists clients in the public sector as well as private industries, including real estate and infrastructure. He is the leader of BCG’s infrastructure, transportation, and cities operations in the North American market. Ferrer has been with BCG since 2010. He worked his way up from project leader to become principal in 2014, then was named to his current position five years ago.
Before joining BCG, Ferrer worked with the United Nations for five years, serving first as an associate program officer and then as finance officer. In his time with the UN, Ferrer devoted his leadership and vision to projects in peacekeeping and international economic development. Ferrer earned both a bachelor’s degree in finance and international business and a Master of Commerce from the University of New South Wales, and went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from the Yale School of Management.
14. Ross Prindle
Company: Kroll
Title: Managing Director and Global Head, Real Estate Advisory Group
Ross Kroll is Managing Director and Global Head of the Real Estate Advisory Group for Kroll, a risk consulting firm based in New York City. Founded in 1972, Kroll provides proprietary data, technology, and insights to help its clients stay ahead of complex demands related to risk, governance, and growth. As a leader at Kroll, Prindle primarily focuses on real estate consulting for corporate clients, pension funds, and private equity firms.
Prindle has been a valuation consultant since 1988 and joined Kroll in 2005, working as a leader in global real estate throughout. Previously, he served in leadership roles with Standard & Poor’s and Arthur Andersen. He holds a Bachelor of Science in real estate and urban planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Business Administration in finance from Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University.
15. Jose Luis Blanco
Company: McKinsey & Company
Title: Senior Partner and Global Leader, E&C
As a Senior Partner with McKinsey & Company, Jose Luis Blanco leads the firm’s engineering and construction (E&C) and building materials practice in North America, with a focus on real estate and construction technology. Founded in 1926, McKinsey is the oldest and largest of the “big three” accounting firms, employing more than 37,000 experts and professionals and serving industries such as automotive, engineering, real estate, technology, and more.
Blanco spearheads McKinsey’s global E&C performance benchmark and construction technology landscape scan, among other duties. Before joining the firm, he was a project manager for ACS, one of Europe’s premier E&C conglomerates, where he led the construction of Barcelona’s landmark Torre Glòries (formerly known as Torre Agbar). He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and Barcelona Tech and a Master of Business Administration in finance from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
16. Emily Butler
Company: CohnReznick
Title: Partner
Emily Butler is a Partner in CohnReznick’s Miami office and a member of the firm’s assurance practice. Headquartered in New York, NY with offices nationwide, CohnReznick is a leading advisory, assurance, and tax firm. In her current role, Butler is responsible for all aspects of audit and management advisory service engagements – such as the planning and coordination of clients’ finance and management personnel. This experience includes working with real estate funds, real estate developers, and owners and operators of the following assets: hotels, office, flex, industrial, multifamily, single family, land, and condo development.
Butler has more than fifteen years of public accounting experience. In addition to her client responsibilities at the firm, Butler is affiliated with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and was previously elected Treasurer for the Miami Chapter of the Commercial Real Estate Women Network. Butler, who is also a CPA, received her Bachelor of Science in accounting from West Virginia University.
17. Barry Shulman
Company: Mackenzie Hughes
Title: Partner
With more than 50 years of expertise and experience, Barry Shulman is a fixture in the Syracuse, New York legal and consulting circles. Currently, Shulman serves as a Partner with Mackenzie Hughes LLP, a firm specializing in counseling businesses, institutions, public authorities, and individuals through issues involving business and commercial law, public and private finance, real estate and development, and more.
Shulman originally joined Mackenzie Hughes in 1966 and returned in 2016 to take his current position. In the interim, he served as president and managing partner of one of Syracuse’s premier law firms, Gilberti Stinziano Heintz & Smith, PC, where he consulted for more than 30 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania and a Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School.
18. Matthieu De Clercq
Company: Oliver Wyman
Title: Partner and Public Sector Lead – Middle East, Africa & India
Matthieu De Clercq is a strategy and economic development expert and is a Partner and the Public Sector Lead for the Middle East, Africa, and India for Oliver Wyman, an American management consulting firm and subsidiary of Marsh McLennan. With more than 5,000 professionals across 60 global offices, Oliver Wyman boasts an annual revenue of approximately $2.5 billion. In his role as a Partner within the public sector and defense practices, De Clercq leads the development of innovative ideas, leveraging his experience and the broad range of capabilities of both Oliver Wyman and Marsh McLennan.
Prior to joining Oliver Wyman, De Clercq was a core and initial founding member of the A.T. Kearney public sector and government practice in the Middle East, and served a short stint as a senior associate with Delta Partners. He holds a Master of Business Administration in entrepreneurship and finance from Esade in Barcelona and received engineering education at The University of Texas at Austin and École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris (formerly Mines ParisTech).
19. Jeff Alpaugh
Company: Marsh (Marsh McLennan)
Title: Managing Director, Global Real Estate & Hospitality Practice Leader
Jeff Alpaugh is the U.S. and Canada Growth and Industry Leader and the Global Real Estate & Hospitality Practice Leader for Marsh, a global professional services firm and subsidiary of Marsh McLennan. He is also Managing Director for Marsh McLennan. An industry veteran with over 30 years of experience, Alpaugh leads Sales for North America and is responsible for leading the firm’s 22 industry practices in the growth, retention, development, and execution of the firm’s sales and industry content strategies. Marsh is part of its parent company’s risk and insurance services unit and accounts for more than 40% of its overall revenue.
Alpaugh has been a valued member of the Marsh McLennan family since 1989, starting as an account executive and advancing through leadership roles. During his tenure in his current role, he has driven growth strategies for the firm and has delivered three consecutive record sales years since he took the position. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Kenyon College and a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
20. Joel Berger
Company: Bradford Allen
Title: Senior Managing Director
For 17 years, Joel Berger has acted as Senior Managing Director for Chicago non-residential real estate giant Bradford Allen. Among his accomplishments with the firm are the establishment of the Suburban Chicago Practice and Healthcare Practice Group, as well as leading recruitment and training for junior associates for nearly a decade. Building on his work as lead writer and editor for Bradford Allen’s Suburban Market Reports, Berger has also demonstrated wide-ranging investment vision that has netted the firm millions in aggregate value through real estate deals.
An avid volunteer, Berger has worked with the Illinois chapter of the Make-A-Wish foundation, serving as a wish granter for 15 years and holding an associate position on the board since 2017. He has frequently worked to extend his executive insight to other professionals in the industry, acting as manager of business development with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce for two years. Berger holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
21. James Perry
Company: Cerami
Title: Managing Partner
James Perry is the Managing Partner of Cerami, a New York-based acoustic design and technology consulting company. Founded in 1965, the firm works with world-class developers and architects to determine how a building sounds, or perhaps how it doesn’t sound at all. As Managing Partner, Perry’s impact to Cerami’s daily operations is only second to the influence he has had on the skyline of America. He leverages more than 25 years of professional experience to oversee the firm's operations, finance, and 80+ engineers.
Having worked on numerous iconic projects over his long career, Perry is best known for his design expertise in hospitals and laboratories, where unforeseen technical complications (such as mechanical or environmental noises) can easily compromise the integrity of testing and research being performed. In addition to his work at Cerami, Perry has also been affiliated with such organizations as the Acoustical Society of America, the Institute of Noise Control Engineering, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. In 1996, Perry received his Bachelor of Science in engineering from the University of Hartford.
22. Ginette Landry
Company: CGI
Title: Director, Corporate Real Estate
Ginette Landry is Director of Corporate Real Estate for CGI, which is one of the largest IT and business consulting services firms in the world. Founded in 1976 and headquartered in Montreal, Canada, CGI offers its clients a robust portfolio of services, including systems integration, consulting, and outsourcing, among others. Landry assumed her current role in March 2003 and is responsible for managing CGI's extensive corporate real estate portfolio.
Among her many areas of expertise, Landry is highly regarded for her contract negotiation, asset management, facilities management, and due diligence that help develop and maintain CGI's extremely profitable real estate portfolio. Prior to CGI, Landry served as Director of Real Estate for The Gordian Group from October 2000 to February 2003.
23. Willa Fields
Company: Beitler
Title: Executive Vice President
Willa Fields has worked with Los Angeles-area real estate firm Beitler Commercial Real Estate Services for 36 years, and has been Beitler’s Executive Vice President for most of that time. Working in the firm’s Corporate Services Group, Fields has provided next-level leadership for Beitler’s “Beginning to End” real estate solutions, demonstrating peerless market knowledge and creative thinking to deliver above client expectations for lease and sale transactions.
In her lengthy tenure with Beitler, Fields has racked up more than her share of accolades, winning the designation of Top Broker at Beitler for 27 out of 30 years. She has also earned recognition from publications throughout the California region for her standout real estate management, particularly with sizeable transactions in the financial, entertainment, and developer industries. Among the clients Fields has represented in real estate transactions are Bank of America, Fatburger, Beverly Hills Porsche, and Tyra Banks. Fields earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California.
24. Ian Shapiro
Company: BDO USA
Title: National Real Estate & Construction Practice Co-Leader
As National Real Estate & Construction Practice Co-Leader with Chicago-based accounting firm BDO USA, Ian Shapiro leads his company’s efforts to provide tax assurance services to clients across all major sectors and industries. Shapiro has a great deal of experience ensuring compliance with SEC and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) regulations. A longtime industry expert when it comes to M&A and consolidation, he provides BDO USA clients next-level insight into all accounting and disclosure matters.
Shapiro is passionate about providing guidance for the upcoming generation of real estate and investment service providers, and is an instructor at professional education seminars in these fields at national and regional events. He holds the position of Director with the Construction Financial Management Association, and is a member of the American and Florida Institutes of Certified Public Accountants. Shapiro earned a Bachelor of Science in economics and social science from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Florida Atlantic University.
25. Jeremy Shrader
Company: Carruthers & Roth
Title: Director
Jeremy Shrader is the Director of Carruthers & Roth, a midsize law firm offering services for personal and professional clients in the Greensboro, North Carolina area. Since joining the firm nearly 14 years ago, Shrader has played a huge part in developing its commercial real estate and financial offerings. Whether it's buying and selling multi-million dollar properties, or helping banks and other financial clients navigate the labyrinth of details involved in commercial foreclosure proceedings, he has proven himself to be a go-to team member. Over the years, his clients have included entrepreneurs, insurance companies, title companies, developers, contractors, medical practitioners, and many more.
Shrader, who passed the North Carolina bar exam in 2008, has also served on the Young Lawyers Section for both the Greensboro Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Association. He received his Doctor of Law from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2008, where he made the Dean's List and was a member of the student-edited law journal, the North Carolina Banking Institute. Prior to that, Shrader earned his Bachelor of Arts in mass communications and Spanish from UNC Asheville, where he was captain of the men's soccer team and graduated summa cum laude.
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