Core Insights - Blackstone has appointed Katie Keenan as the new CEO of its $105 billion real estate fund, BREIT, following the tragic death of former leader Wesley LePatner [1][2] - Keenan has been with Blackstone for 13 years and has held various roles, including co-chief investment officer for the real estate debt business and CEO of Blackstone Mortgage Trust [3][4] - The leadership change highlights Blackstone's commitment to maintaining its position as one of the world's largest landlords, with Keenan's experience in significant deals, such as the $23 billion acquisition of GE's real estate [4][6] Leadership Transition - The previous CEO, Wesley LePatner, was killed in a shooting incident at Blackstone's Manhattan headquarters, which also resulted in the deaths of three others [2] - Tim Johnson, a 14-year veteran at Blackstone, will take over leadership of the mortgage trust following Keenan's promotion [3] Katie Keenan's Background - Keenan was recognized in Business Insider's inaugural rising stars list in 2017 and has successfully led her team in closing over 15 transactions worth $2.75 billion in a single year [5][7] - Prior to her tenure at Blackstone, Keenan worked at Lupert-Adler and G2 Investment Group, and began her career at Lehman Brothers as a real estate investment banker [7]