Michael Besen

Michael Besen is President and CEO of Besen Partners, which he originally formed as Besen & Associates in 1988. Mr. Besen is an accomplished executive whose companies have brokered the purchase and sale of over $7 billion of real estate assets, the management of over 5 million square feet of real property and the purchase and ownership of over $200 million of assets for his own account and that of his co-investment partners. He is a proven industry leader that has grown his businesses through changing market cycles and environments. Michael is the leader of all of Besen’s operating units and activities and is the chair of the firm’s Management and Investment Committees.

During the banking and real estate crisis of the early 1990’s, Mr. Besen spearheaded disposition of many foreclosed properties and underperforming loans for institutions such as Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and Resolution Trust Corporation. He has grown the firm throughout several economic cycles, continually adapting to both adverse and strong markets.

Since then, Mr. Besen has grown the company into a full-service investment firm with investment sales, financing, property and asset management (residential and commercial), retail and residential leasing and the sponsorship of several co-investment opportunities.

Over the past 15 years, Mr. Besen has formed new divisions to cater to the expanding needs of clients. New York City Management provides office and residential management and leasing services. Besen Capital is the financing arm of Besen & Associates, in place to assist existing and new clients in securing debt and equity for commercial real estate investments. Besen Retail provides leasing services for both landlords and tenants, handling transactions ranging in size from 500 to 50,000 square feet.

In 2009, Mr. Besen formed the Distressed Asset Advisory Group, a special service unit to provide expertise to lenders for commercial property in financial distress. The group advises lenders, receivers, special servicers as well as owners, offering valuation, asset management, re-capitalization and disposition services.

Mr. Besen is a graduate of Northwestern University and is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York.