EQ Office has promoted company veteran Britton Derkac to the newly created role of national head of leasing as the Blackstone Group office unit and owner of Chicago’s Willis Tower keeps reshaping its leadership under new CEO Alex Vouvalides.
Derkac has almost 20 years of industry experience, including the past 14 years with Chicago-based EQ Office, the company said Monday in a statement.
Boston-based Derkac also is a senior vice president at EQ Office. He previously was portfolio director.
Derkac recently has focused on leasing and portfolio management in several markets where EQ Office owns office buildings, including in Chicago as well as Boston, Massachusetts; Nashville, Tennessee; and Washington, D.C., the statement said.
His leases have included landing a restaurant deal by chef Tom Colicchio’s Crafted Hospitality in Market Square in Washington, the company said.
EQ Office owns 20 million square feet of office space throughout the country.
“Brit brings an incredible depth of experience to this new and crucial role in our platform. His dedication to our partners makes him the ideal candidate and representative of the EQ Office brand,” Vouvalides said in the statement. “We’re confident that under Brit’s leadership, EQ will continue to help companies attract, retain, and inspire talent by creating effective work environments.”
In May, the company announced Vouvalides, formerly of Hudson Pacific Properties and Eagle Point Capital Partners, as CEO. He filled the position previously held by Lisa Picard, who left in February.
Also in May, Vouvalides’ longtime colleague Josh Hatfield was announced as EQ Office’s chief operating officer.
EQ Office’s properties include Willis Tower, the 110-story building formerly known as the Sears Tower, U.S. Bank Center in Seattle, the Playa District complex in Los Angeles and Nashville’s Fifth Third Center.
Derkac said in the statement he's looking forward to taking on the new role, “especially during such a pivotal moment in the industry. As the workplace continues to evolve, EQ Office has an opportunity to shape the customer experience — to become a strategic partner that works to deliver value and design space that not only fits but exceeds future needs.”