Kaye/Bassman Completes Top Search for Vornado Realty Trust
October 23, 2026 – Plano, TX-based executive search firm Kaye/Bassman International (KBIC), a Starfish Partners company, has recruited Elisa Young as executive vice president, head of retail leasing at Vornado Realty Trust, one of the most prominent owners and managers of commercial real estate in Manhattan. Managing partner Scott Huey led the assignment. For Huey and Kaye/Bassman, this placement underscores the importance of specialized executive search in a competitive commercial real estate market, where identifying the right leader requires more than matching experience to a job description. It demands an understanding of the market, the business objectives behind a search and the leadership qualities needed to create a lasting impact, the firm explained.
“Elisa is an exceptional talent whose experience, relationships and understanding of the Manhattan retail market make her a tremendous fit for this opportunity,” said Mr. Huey. “Executive search is about understanding not only what an organization needs today, but the leadership that will help position it for the future. We’re proud to have played a role in bringing together such an accomplished executive and a premier real estate organization like Vornado.”
Ms. Young’s appointment reflects the caliber of executive talent and leadership opportunities at the intersection of retail, leasing and commercial real estate. As Manhattan continues to evolve as a global retail destination, leadership appointments of this scale reinforce the importance of connecting exceptional talent with organizations positioned to shape the market.
Previously, Ms. Young served as senior vice president of retail leasing at Brookfield Properties, where she helped drive leasing strategy and cultivate relationships with leading global retailers. Her experience includes work with internationally recognized brands such as Gucci, Dior, Bottega Veneta, Sephora, Lululemon, Eataly and TAG Heuer. Throughout her career, she has played a role in shaping the retail landscape of major Manhattan destinations, bringing a combination of market knowledge, strategic vision and deep industry relationships to her new position, Kaye/Bassman noted.
“Elisa is an accomplished retail leasing executive with a distinguished track record of attracting world-class brands and shaping premier retail destinations,” Vornado executive vice president Glen Weiss said. “Her industry relationships, market expertise, and strategic vision would be important as Vornado continues to strengthen its retail portfolio.”
Ms. Young’s appointment represents a significant executive placement within New York City’s commercial real estate market, bringing an accomplished retail leasing leader to one of Manhattan’s most influential real estate portfolios. In her new role, she will oversee leasing across approximately 2.3 million square feet of street-level retail space spanning 40 Manhattan properties, helping shape the tenant mix and continued evolution of some of the city’s most prominent retail destinations.
Kaye/Bassman is a global search and recruitment solutions firm. It offers expertise in a number of industries, including construction and real estate, banking, insurance, private wealth management, healthcare, energy, security, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, and medical device. During the last two decades, Kaye/Bassman has conducted nearly 5,000 mid- to senior-level searches.
Growing Real Estate Practice
Kaye/Bassman’s commercial real estate recruiting practice partners with organizations to identify and recruit high-impact talent across the industry. By combining specialized market knowledge with a relationship-driven search approach, the firm helps clients secure leaders who can advance business objectives, strengthen teams and contribute to long-term organizational success.
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Mr. Huey serves as managing partner of the real estate and construction practice at KBIC, where he focuses on building and expanding the firm’s real estate practice across the Midwest region with a scalable model designed for nationwide implementation. With over 21 years of executive search and recruiting experience in the real estate, construction, and retail sectors, he brings a wealth of expertise and a results-driven approach to both clients and candidates.
Kaye/Bassman recently named Lee Martin as managing director and practice leader of the north division within its construction and real estate practice. In this expanded leadership role, he will lead the continued growth of the firm’s commercial real estate, building construction, and construction technology practices across the northern United States, further advancing KBIC’s integrated built environment capabilities.
Over the past year, Mr. Martin has expanded the reach of the construction north division beyond its Midwest foundation, building relationships and delivering senior-level talent across the Northern United States. “His track record of client partnership and market expertise has positioned him as a key leader within the firm’s construction and real estate practice,” the firm said.
The division’s capabilities have been further strengthened through the integration of Chris Rose, who brings broad commercial real estate experience across advisory and investment services, and Alex Gillespie, who leads the firm’s construction technology practice, expanding Kaye/Bassman’s ability to serve clients at the intersection of construction and emerging technologies.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
