Michael Casey joins Blackstone fundraising team

Private equity firm The Blackstone Group announced the appointment of real estate veteran Michael Casey to its fundraising and LP relations team.

The Blackstone Group announced today it has appointed Michael Casey as a managing director in the firm’s limited partner relations and fund placement group. He will be tasked with raising capital for Blackstone’s private investment funds.

Formerly president of Cliffwood Partners, Casey was responsible for capital raising and investor relations, as well as new product development, at the Los Angeles-based property firm. He was also a member of the firm’s investment committee.

Prior to joining Cliffwood, Casey was managing director and senior portfolio manager at Chicago’s Heitman Capital Management, where he also served on the firm’s investment and management committees. Prior to Heitman, Casey spent twelve years with JMB Realty.

Casey received a BBA in real estate and finance in 1980 and an MBA in real estate in 1983 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The Blackstone Group is reportedly close to closing a $10-billion (€7.3 billion) vehicle to invest in international property. The firm’s last fund, Blackstone Real Estate Partners V, closed on $5.3 billion in 2006.