Blackstone Names Katie Keenan as BREIT CEO After LePatner's Death

Blackstone Inc. has appointed Katie Keenan as CEO of its $53 billion real estate investment trust, BREIT, after Wesley LePatner's death in a shooting at the firm's headquarters. Keenan, a 13-year veteran of Blackstone, will also become global head of the firm's core-plus real estate business. She previously led Blackstone Mortgage Trust Inc. through a challenging period for commercial real estate.

New York - Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX), the $232 billion market cap investment giant, has appointed Katie Keenan as the CEO of its $53 billion real estate investment trust, Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust (BREIT), following the death of former CEO Wesley LePatner. Keenan, a 13-year veteran of Blackstone, will also oversee the firm's core-plus real estate business. She previously led Blackstone Mortgage Trust Inc. through a challenging period for commercial real estate.

Keenan's appointment comes after LePatner's death in a shooting incident at Blackstone's headquarters on July 28, 2025. She succeeds LePatner as the head of BREIT, which manages a portfolio of income-focused real estate investments. Keenan's leadership will focus on maintaining and growing the trust's strong performance, which has delivered a 9.2% annualized net return on Class I shares since its inception over 8.5 years ago.

The leadership changes at BREIT also include the appointment of Zaneta Koplewicz as Co-President and Director, alongside current Co-President A.J. Agarwal. Rob Harper, who served as BREIT's interim CEO, will return to his role as BREIT Head of Asset Management. Austin Peña, Executive Vice President of Investments at BXMT, has been promoted to President and Director, continuing to lead the company's investment and capital allocation strategy.

Keenan's appointment reflects Blackstone's commitment to continuity and stability in its real estate division. The company's real estate business, founded in 1991, currently manages $325 billion in investor capital across various sectors, including logistics, data centers, residential, office, and hospitality. The company maintains strong fundamentals with a 100% gross profit margin and 37% year-over-year revenue growth.

For more information about Blackstone's valuation and growth prospects, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro Blackstone announces leadership changes in real estate division^[1].