Blackstone Names Katie Keenan BREIT’s New CEO  

Blackstone has named Katie Keenan as CEO of Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, as well as global head of the Core+ business, the company announced on Friday.

Keenan currently serves as global co-chief investment officer for BREDS, the firm’s real estate debt strategies arm, as well as CEO of Blackstone Mortgage Trust.

She is stepping into her new roles after her predecessor at BREIT, Wesley LePatner, died in a mass shooting at Blackstone’s Manhattan headquarters in July. 

Keenan has held multiple leadership positions at Blackstone since beginning her career at the firm in 2012. She has also been instrumental in the growth of both Blackstone Mortgage Trust and the $77 billion BREDS platform, the company noted in a statement.

Blackstone made several other executive appointments in concert with today’s announcement. Tim Johnson will succeed Keenan as CEO of Blackstone Mortgage Trust and will retain both of his current positions as chair of its board and global head of BREDS.

Zaneta Koplewicz, BREIT’s director of shareholder relations, will become co-president & director, joining A.J. Agarwal, BREIT’s current co-president. Rob Harper, who had served as BREIT’s interim CEO since August, will resume his role as head of asset management.

The appointments will take effect on Nov. 10, except for Keenan’s role as global head of Core+, which is effective immediately.