Miki Naftali -
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, NAFTALI GROUP
Miki Naftali is a world leader in reviving the elegance of iconic properties by creating the right balance between tasteful restoration and modern ingenuity. He has a track record of spotting unique opportunities and launching projects that continuously raise the bar for creative development in the domestic and international real estate industries. It is these characteristics that have allowed Miki Naftali to craft an entirely new class of innovative ultra-luxury developments, and to become a leader in the real estate industry.
Prior to establishing the NAFTALI GROUP, Miki Naftali launched and guided Elad Properties’ successful New York operation and oversaw its tremendous expansion. Under his guidance, the company succeeded at both developing new luxury properties in neighborhoods with strong growth potential, as well as identifying landmark or significant buildings and meticulously restoring them to create unparalleled demand and value. During his tenure, the company demonstrated significant global reach, unmatched effectiveness and proven competitive strength. Miki Naftali has developed millions of square feet resulting in well over a billion dollars of net profit. The $450 million restoration and reconfiguration of the iconic Plaza Hotel epitomizes Miki Naftali’s ability to generate extraordinary returns through innovative deals and industry expertise. Mr. Naftali and his team worked closely with The Landmarks Commission and the city’s top architects to preserve its beauty and history while transforming it into an economically successful mixed-use development. The Private Residences at The Plaza sold for record prices, and hotel occupancy rates are consistently outperforming the competitive set.
During his tenure at Elad Properties, Miki Naftali received numerous honors for his development, marketing, and financial activities. These awards include the following: Number 18 on the top 100 Most Powerful People in New York Real Estate by the New York Observer, Deal of the Year by Real Estate Finance & Investment, Best Redevelopment of The Plaza Hotel and Residences by the International Property Awards in conjunction with CNBC, Love Where You Live and The Right Place by MarCom for The Links’ advertising campaign, Best Restoration project by New York Construction Magazine, Citation of Excellence from Building New York Construction magazine. In 2010, the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of New York awarded The Plaza the Platinum Engineering Excellence Award in the category of Structural Systems.
Miki Naftali also served as the former President and CEO of Elad Group, where he oversaw a diverse and expansive portfolio consisting of 12,000 multi-family units in more than nine states, as well as 12,000 units in Canada. This portfolio covered all industry categories, including: office, retail, residential, and industrial buildings. Miki Naftali then led the initial public offering (IPO) for Elad Canada Inc in 2010 as Chairman of the Board.
Miki Naftali is the former Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of DGRE. He is an active keynote speaker and guest lecturer. Recent engagements include; the Young Jewish Professionals 2010 Real Estate Investment Summit, The Real Deal Annual Forum 2009, Friends of the IDF, University of Southern California, and Columbia Business School. He has been invited to speak at The Real Deal’s 5th Annual Distressed Properties Forum, the Stoler Report’s Real Estate Trends in the Tri-State region focusing on Luxury Residentials, and Fox News Travel and Leisure business segment.