Mr. David A. Helfand has been the Chief Executive Officer and President at Equity Commonwealthsince May 2014. He serves as a Co-President at Equity Group Investments since January 2012 where he has overseen Equity Group's real estate activities andall aspects of the Equity Group Investments and also devote a substantial amount of his time to the Zell Opportunities Funds. Prior to re-joining EGI in 2012, Mr. Helfand served as the President, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Helix Funds. He oversaw the acquisition, management and disposition of more than $22 billion in real estate assets. While at Helix, Mr. Helfand also served as Chief Executive Officer for American Residential Communities. Mr. Helfand served as Interim Chief Financial Officer and Interim Treasurer of CommonWealth REIT until July 8, 2014. Mr. Helfand has worked with Sam Zell for more than 24 years in a variety of capacities. He served as the Chief Investment Officer and Executive Vice President at Equity Office Properties Trust from September 2001 to April 28, 2003. He joined Equity Office in 1998. He also served as an Executive Vice President of Business Development of Equity Office from February 2000 to September 2001, Senior Vice President of New Business Development of Equity Office from July 1998 to February 2000 and Managing Director of Equity International Properties, Ltd. from December 1997 to July 1998. He served as a Managing Director at Equity International Properties from December 1997 to July 1998. He served as the President at Manufactured Home Communities Inc. from January 1995 to September 1997, Chief Executive Officer from August 1996 to December 1997, Chief Financial Officer from December 1992 to February 1995, Senior Vice President from March 1994 to January 1995. During his five-year tenure at Equity Office, he played an integral role in its growth and strategic redeployment of capital. Under his direction, Equity Office's investment team acquired more than $12 billion in property and sold more than $2 billion in non-core assets. He served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc. He serves as a Member of Advisory Board of Tur Partners LLC. He has been a Trustee of Equity CommonWealth since May 23, 2014. He is a Member of the Board of Trustees of National Louis University and serves as a Director of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. He served as a Director of Equity Lifestyles Properties, Inc. (formerly, Manufactured Home Communities Inc.) from May 1995 to March 26, 2004. Mr. Helfand earned a Master's degree and MBA from the University Of Chicago Booth Graduate School Of Business and a Bachelor's degree and BA from Northwestern University's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.