Harrison Street hires Heitman exec

The Chicago-based private equity real estate firm added a senior vice president to its client service and marketing group.

Harrison Street Real Estate Capital added Jenna Sheehan to its senior leadership team, the firm said Wednesday.

Sheehan, who works out of the firm’s Chicago office, joined the Chicago-based private equity real estate firm as a senior vice president in the client service and marketing group. Previously, she was a partner and director of client service and marketing at Heitman, a Chicago-based real estate investment management firm. There, she most recently led the firm’s North America consultant relations, capital raising and business development efforts.

“Jenna has significant experience working with sophisticated real estate investors and we are pleased to have her join our firm as we expand our global client relationships,” said Chris Merrill, the firm’s co-founder and chief executive officer, in a statement.

Last month, Harrison Street opened a London office as it seeks to expand its European reach, initially in student housing. The firm is in the process of raising its first European student housing fund, targeting €135 million.

Harrison Street closed on its latest US opportunistic fund in February at $850 million. The firm, founded in 2005, manages about $7.9 billion in assets.