Newmark strengthens retail advisors group with new hire

Real Estate Weekly, May 30, 2001

Retail and real estate industry veteran Michael D. Levin has joined Newmark Retail Financial Advisors as chief operating officer and principal. A former managing director with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Levin brings more than 26 years of institutional and entrepreneurial retail industry and real estate experience to NRFA. He joins NRFA as a partner.

"Mike is without a doubt one of the most accomplished professionals in the industry today. We are excited that he has chosen to join the NRFA team," said Robert L. Pressman, NRFA's CEO and managing principal and a well-known expert in retail operations and finance. "As a key principal with an emphasis on retail advisory services, mergers and acquisitions, business assessment, restructuring and bankruptcy, I am certain that Mike will contribute enormously to our success in maintaining and expanding client relationships both on a national and international areas."

Levin will assist Pressman in the continuation of building NRFA into one of the premier retail financial advisory services firm in the world. As COO, Levin will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of NRFA. NRFA's services for retailers, investors, lenders and creditors in the retail, apparel and consumer products industries include corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, financial and operational assessment, dispositions, real estate valuations and sales, financing and capital activities, restructurings and bankruptcies and principal investments. NRFA takes a strategic approach to the retail, apparel and consumer products industries, whether a company is in an acquisition, expansion, downsizing, restructuring or bankruptcy phase. Currently, NRFA represents or has represented such well-known clients as the American Retail Group (including Uptons Department Store), joan and david, Adrienne Vittadini, Store of Knowledge, Montgomery Ward and Hanover Direct (including the Gumps and Brawn of California retail and catalog divisions).

"I look forward to working with Bob in expanding NRFA's already strong standing in the market," said Levin. "The complementary combination of the group's talents undoubtedly benefits the retail financial advisory landscape."