Joaquin de Monet, Arden Realty CEO and president, to receive top honor from City of Hope

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--City of Hope’s Los Angeles Real Estate and Construction Industries Council announced today that it will honor Joaquin de Monet, chief executive officer and president of Arden Realty Inc., a GE Capital Real Estate company and one of the nation’s top commercial real estate landlords, with its 2012 Spirit of Life® Award. City of Hope is a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. The Spirit of Life Award is City of Hope’s most prestigious philanthropic honor, presented annually to a real estate industry leader who has demonstrated outstanding business and philanthropic achievement.

“I am honored to be the recipient of this year’s award”

Presented by City of Hope’s Los Angeles Real Estate and Construction Industries Council, the event will take place on Monday, Oct. 22, at 5:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. For information, contact Brittany De La Torre, director of development, at 800-272-2310 or [e-mail] or visit www.cityofhope.org/lare/sol.

Throughout his career, de Monet has been a seasoned builder of growth businesses, with a proven track record executing large equity and debt transactions and leading high performance global teams in both real estate investing and operating companies. To date, he has arranged and managed over $10 billion additional investments in the United States and Mexico.

As de Monet successfully guided Arden through $6 billion of investment activity, he transformed the company from a regional office REIT into a nationally recognized office and industrial landlord, establishing the company as a value-add investor and a premier operator.

His leadership during a complex economic cycle included the execution of a $1.5 billion sale of a portion of Arden's office portfolio, a $2.1 billion acquisition of Carr America’s west coast holdings and the successful integration of an additional 11 million square feet of industrial real estate.

In addition, de Monet created and currently leads GE’s Global Leasing and Operations Center of Excellence, driving best practices in leasing, operational excellence and collaboration across GE’s international commercial real estate portfolio of more than of 100 million square feet.

“Joaquin de Monet embodies all that The Spirit of Life Award represents, and Arden Realty has been a generous supporter of City of Hope’s lifesaving research and education programs,” said Richard Ziman, founding chairman of the Los Angeles Real Estate Council. “He is an outstanding leader and humanitarian who uses his talent and success to make a difference in his community.”

“I am honored to be the recipient of this year’s award,” said de Monet. “It is a privilege to represent my industry and the innovative work of City of Hope. This award highlights how leadership in a great industry like real estate can team with clinical innovation toward solving tough health-care challenges like those of cancer.”

About the Los Angeles Real Estate & Construction Industries Council

Led by a group of dedicated industry and community leaders, the Los Angeles Real Estate and Construction Industries Council shares a commitment to provide financial support for the innovative research, treatment and education programs at City of Hope. Currently, the LARE Council includes 60 of the top professionals in banking, insurance, development, law, accounting, management and investment in the real estate sector.

About Arden Realty Inc.

Arden Realty, Inc. is a forward-thinking national commercial real estate landlord with a business model of innovation, sustainable solutions and accountability. A fully integrated office platform of GE Capital Real Estate and its parent company General Electric, Arden delivers commercial real estate expertise in property management and leasing, high-quality construction management and engineering, corporate services and investment sales. A sustainability leader in the commercial real estate industry, Arden is nationally recognized for its commitment to energy conservation and efficiency. Currently, Arden has a portfolio in excess of 16 million square feet and 184 office buildings in major markets.

About City of Hope

City of Hope is a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as a comprehensive cancer center, the highest honor bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope's research and treatment protocols advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope is based in Southern California and is ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in cancer by U.S.News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics. For more information, visit www.cityofhope.org or follow City of Hope on facebook, twitter, youtube or flickr.