Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (NGKF) announced that the leadership of Helios Capital Advisors, a boutique capital markets advisory firm headed by industry veteran Steven Schultz, has merged with NGKF’s capital markets advisory platform.
The move is the latest in a series of steps by NGKF to ramp up its sales force which, according to president James D. Kuhn, is already bearing fruit. “At the moment, we have several large transactions in play,” Kuhn said.
“It has been remarkable to see how quickly and seamlessly these regional leaders have leveraged NGKF’s capital markets platform to land highly valuable assignments and close transactions.”
“By merging with Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, we not only have expanded the reach of our team, but also have aligned with one of the industry’s strongest players in the capital markets arena,”added Schultz.
Schultz, Helios’ founding member and chief executive officer, will lead the expansion of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank Capital Group in New Jersey, working with David Simson, vice chairman/COO of the New Jersey operations.
He brings with him a team of professionals specializing in the disposition of commercial mortgage loans, banks’ real estate owned and privately owned investment properties throughout the Northeast.
“The Helios team is a valuable addition to the financial services advisory business we are forging at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank,” said Kuhn.
“Already a clear leader in the Northeast within its significant niche market and having closed more than $1 billion in non-performing loans since since 2009, this particular team is highly skilled and known as pioneers when it comes to REO and non-performing loan sales. They are very excited to integrate their non-performing loan sale platform with our national effort.”
Schultz joins NGKF as executive managing director, and will continue to lead the six-person team he assembled at Helios.
In addition to Mr. Schultz, former Helios professionals making the transition to NGKF include Josh Malka, director; Tony Georgiev, director; and Joseph Villani, associate. The team will operate from the NGKF offices in Rutherford, N.J., and New York City.
Prior to forming Helios Capital, Schultz cofounded The Schultz Organization, LLC, in 1990. He also helped to form and cultivate the success of another firm, Pyramid Property Partners, a development company.
Kuhn said the addition of the Helios team is the latest in a series of new hires and developments as positions itself as an industry leader across geographies and practice areas.
Key leadership appointments in recent months include: in Los Angeles, Conrad Andersen as senior managing director and head of the financial services advisory division and Craig Sherman as senior note sale advisor; In New York, Andrew Phillips as managing director, growing his previous role as eastern regional leader of Grubb & Ellis’ financial services advisory management team.
“At the moment we have several large transactions in play,” Kuhn said. “It has been remarkable to see how quickly and seamlessly these regional leaders have leveraged NGKF’s capital markets platform to land highly valuable assignments and close transactions.”
Twenty-five year industry veteran Andersen has held senior positions at Bank of America, Security Pacific Bank and Coast Savings Bank, and specializes in the sale of non-performing assets for U.S. banks and special servicers.
Sherman has worked in real estate finance for two decades, and was Grubb & Ellis’ senior advisor on note sales.
Phillips has regional responsibility for developing client-specific programs and is the account manager for several major foreign and money-center bank clients, overseeing disposition of both performing and non-performing note sales.
