A Chicago area industrial developer named a new CEO, amid other leadership changes across the industry.
La Grange-based Becknell Industrial promoted its chief financial officer, Clay Thelen, to the role of CEO, according to a press release. The move is part of a broader succession plan in place following the retirement of former CEO Mark Shapland.
Shapland had been with the company for 18 years, including 15 years as chief operating officer, the release stated.
Becknell was founded in 1990 and has since expanded to include offices in Charlotte, Denver, Indianapolis, Miami and San Diego, according to the release. Since its founding, the company has acquired or developed more than 248 industrial buildings totaling over 41 million square feet, worth $4.5 billion.
The succession plan also includes other leadership changes among the company’s top roles, the release stated. Peter Shaplin was promoted to chief investment officer and will lead business development and leasing.
The firm’s former president of design & construction, Craig Kouri, was appointed president and COO, overseeing design, construction, property management, information technology and marketing.
Patrick Harrington, a longtime board member, joined the company from Harrington Law to take on the role of chief legal officer and general counsel; and Paige Steers joined Becknell as chief marketing officer.
Another Chicago area commercial real estate giant, Inland Real Estate Group, has been undergoing its own succession process.
Most recently, Inland appointed Catherine Lynch as its chief of staff, a news release stated. Lynch has been with Inland since 1989 and held several leadership positions, according to the release. In her new role she will report directly to Inland CEO Tony Chereso. She will also maintain her other roles with the company’s affiliates, including director of Inland Investments, Inland Private Capital Corporation and Inland Securities Corporation, and director of The Inland Group, LLC.
Oak Brook-based Inland is one of the country’s largest real estate investment firms with $125 billion in transactions since its founding in 1968, according to its website. It currently has over 1,200 employees and operates in 49 states.
Chicago-based commercial brokerage Quantum Real Estate Advisors also made a new hire last week.
Daniel Sanfilippo joined the company as a vice president and will join Quantum’s single-tenant investment sales team, a press release states. He previously worked for Chicago-based brokerage Stream Capital Partners and Charlotte-based Zucker Investment Group.