Bentall

Positioning BGO as an inspiring institutional real estate investment manager in DEI and ESG

BentallGreenOak has been a leader in environmental, social and governance (ESG) within the commercial real estate and institutional investment communities for years, yet its milestones and progress seemed to fly under the radar. When BGO decided it was time to be bolder in how they told their ESG story, Akrete led a PR program positioning BGO as a market visionary for how socially responsible institutional real estate investment management can fight climate change, increase diversity, equity and inclusion in the commercial real estate (CRE) and investment management industries and meaningfully impact the communities where they operate.

Bentall-Forbes
Bentall Commercial Property Executive

Strategy

We deliver integrated PR and corporate communications services in support of the Toronto-based Corporate Communications team and U.S.-based executives. Our work includes media relations, media strategy and counsel, thought leadership platform development, ghostwriting/content creation; award identification and submittals; and executive platform communications support (CEO has been vocal on social justice and DEI issues). Periodically we take on writing reports for other parts of the company such as its annual ESG report. We work with this client in a global, multi-agency environment.

Results

We leverage the passion and authenticity of BGO’s charismatic CEO, along with its deep bench of diverse leaders and milestone proof points, to bring its ESG story alive for commercial real estate institutional investment and national business media. The firm’s media coverage has become both frequent and on-message as our partnership has evolved with their highly strategic in-house corporate communications team. Here are a few examples of strategic media coverage we’ve helped to secure and shape:

  1. Forbes, “Three Ways To Crack The Culture Code And Develop Corporate Values That Resonate”
  2. Commercial Property Executive, “Pushing for Change: Bringing Outliers to the Table”
  3. GlobeSt.,“BentallGreenOak Portfolio Scores Fitwel’s Viral Response Approval”
  4. IREI,“How some real estate investment organizations are approaching DEI”
  5. PERE (Cover Story), “The Search for the Female CEO”
  6. PERE“Meet Real Estate’s Women of Influence”
  7. IP&E, “BentallGreenOak targets gender parity by 2030”
  8. IP&E, “BentallGreenOak sets 2050 net-zero carbon target for portfolio”
  9. IPE, “Top 150: Interviews with Blackstone, PGIM and BentallGreenOak”
  10. Commercial Observer, “Sustainability is Key as Tenants Look to Owners for Greener Buildings”
  11. PERE, “Six key trends in private real estate’s race to net-zero emissions”
  12. PERE, “Setting the pace on ESG standards”
  13. Solar Power World Online, “Summit Ridge Energy, Black Bear Energy planning 2.7-MW community solar project in Maryland”
  14. Forbes, “Three Commercial Real Estate CEOs Committed To ESG”