DHR International Names Global Real Estate Practice Leaders

October 7, 2019 – Chicago-based search firm DHR International has announced new appointments in its global real estate practice. Vince Saunders has been named co-managing partner, real estate. Martin Nass has been promoted to vice chairman in addition to his role as co-managing partner, real estate. Together the two will lead the firm’s global real estate practice, which spans North America, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and North Africa.

Since 2015, Mr. Nass has led DHR’s global real estate practice as managing partner. As vice chairman, he will assume additional responsibilities with an emphasis on associate and partner team development, associate professional development and career development of associates and principals.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Nass served as a partner and leader of the global real estate practice at CTPartners. He holds over 30 years of real estate and mortgage banking experience. A frequent speaker at major industry events, Mr. Nass is an active member of the Real Estate Roundtable, the Zell-Lurie Real Estate Center, Pension Real Estate Association and the National Association of Real Estate Trusts. He sits on the real estate board of directors for the University of Florida.

Mr. Saunders brings over 25 years of real estate experience to his new role, offering clients a unique understanding of their leadership needs and strategic business dynamics. Prior to joining DHR, he co-founded his own real estate investment management firm before working as a partner for CTPartners, which was acquired by DHR in 2015.

Mr. Saunders has held general partner positions for real estate funds with RS Investments and Robertson Stephens Investment Bank. Before entering the real estate sector, he worked for Deloitte where he performed services for Fortune 500 companies in a variety of industries.

Since 1989, DHR International has been a leading, privately held provider of executive search solutions with more than 50 wholly-owned offices spanning the globe. DHR’s consultants specialize in all industries and functions, providing senior-level executive search, management assessment and succession planning services tailored to the qualities and specifications of its client base.

Recent Growth

DHR recently acquired OBEN Search, a boutique recruiter for the oil and gas industries. The firm’s founder, Michael Wing, joined DHR as managing partner in the oil and gas industries sector practice. Mr. Wing has more than 18 years of experience as a retained search executive, primarily in the oil and gas sector in the U.S., Canada, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

DHR also recently opened its first office in Switzerland. Stefan Binder has joined the firm as managing director to lead the new office in Zurich, which becomes DHR’s 10th office in Europe. DHR has been looking to establish a local presence in the Swiss market for the last couple of years. “Switzerland is a geographic hub for many of our global clients and will allow us to better service our core global practice areas in life sciences, consumer and industrial,” the firm said.

Mr. Binder is now a member of the DHR’s global life science practice with a primary focus on the life science and healthcare sectors. He previously worked in executive search at Odgers Berndtson, Amrop and a search boutique in Switzerland locally and internationally as a partner.

DHR also recently added Cassie Owen as a partner in its Dubai office. She has retail and fashion recruitment expertise across all disciplines from board and C-level appointments to core retail operations, buying and merchandising, public relations and marketing, design, e-commerce and supply chain. With a devotion to international retail, specifically in the Middle East, Ms. Owen continues to develop relationships based on trust and integrity, said Ayman Haddad, managing partner for Middle East and Africa. “Cassie is a great addition to our team,” he said. “With her consultative approach and deep knowledge of the retail & consumer industry, she will add tremendous value to our clients and help us develop this sector across the Middle East region.”

Ms. Owen most recently served as head of fashion, retail and digital luxury for Mackenzie Jones Middle East, working with global luxury groups, franchised retailers, family groups and private equity clients.

In London, meanwhile, DHR added Daniel Hall as managing partner. Mr. Hall focuses on the executive recruitment and assessment of industrial and consumer professionals. His hiring affirms DHR’s commitment to rebuilding its London presence, said the search firm. Most recently, Mr. Hall was co-founder and managing partner at Excelion Partners International, working in the firm’s London and New York offices.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media