Darren Sloniger Absorbs Marquette CEO Role

Firms headquartered in Chicago’s western suburbs have been home to the area’s noteworthy real estate career moves of late, with a familiar leader sliding into the CEO role at one of its biggest multifamily developers and a well established brokerage creating a new president role.

Plus, @properties’ Christie’s International Real Estate built a new bridge between the brokerage’s services, its affiliates and the Christie’s auction house.

➤ Darren Sloniger, a longtime employee of Naperville-based developer Marquette Companies, gained some new responsibilities. He took over the CEO role for the firm this month, a promotion from the president and chief investment officer position he’d held most recently as part of his 22-year tenure with the firm.

Meanwhile, Nick Ryan, who cofounded Marquette in 1983 and was previously its CEO, is now executive chairman.

“Darren is a proven leader with a wealth of experience and expertise in the real estate industry,” Ryan said in a statement. “We are confident that he will inspire and develop our team as we move into the next phase of our growth plan.”

Marquette has about 15,000 apartments under management, mostly in the central U.S. and Florida, and is set to deliver the 278-unit, 26-story Parq Fulton project this quarter at 1400 West Randolph Street in Chicago, and the firm in November made a $104 million sale of the newly built 242-unit, 11-story Evo Union Park property at 1454 West Randolph.

➤ Oakbrook Terrace-based commercial brokerage NAI Hiffman brought on John Heiberger to its leadership, creating the role of president for the longtime Chicago-area real estate professional to fill.

Heiberger was most recently the U.S. head of real estate for the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, or CIBC, a position he held since 2017.

He will lead corporate accounting and oversee the brokerage’s operations and people services departments while reporting to NAI Hiffman CEO Dave Peterson.

➤ Anne Colvin is stepping into a newly created role with Christie’s International Real Estate as its vice president of affiliate services. Colvin was previously director of partnerships for the digital marketing agency Luxury Presence that serves some top brokerages and agents.

From the new position, Colvin, who’s based in Chicago, will foster the relationship between Christie’s International Real Estate — which was acquired by Chicago’s largest brokerage @properties last year — and its affiliates as well as the Christie’s auction house. She will also manage the brokerage’s evolving services offerings, including coaching and training, as well as technology and marketing.

“Right now, we are focused on delivering more services and resources than ever before, so having someone like Anne, who has deep industry relationships and experience and understands the inner workings of independent brokerages, is incredible for our affiliates and our brand,” Chris Lim, president of Christie’s International Real Estate, said in a statement.