ABOUT US
The exclusive real estate partner of Forbes—we are a consortium of top-tier brokerages worldwide.
Forbes Global Properties is owned and run by brokerages, with a Forbes ownership stake creating an interest in our success. Membership in our network is reserved for the most distinguished brokerages in select cities and second-home destinations.
Leveraging Forbes’ worldwide reach and digital audience of more than 140 million, we introduce discerning buyers and sellers to a curated collection of prestigious properties and the agents who represent them.
Presenting the world’s most exceptional residences, Forbes Global Properties helps agents engage and inspire an increasingly global audience of discerning buyers and sellers. Homes are presented with timely market data and top-tier editorial.
OUR FOUNDER
Jeff Hyland
Founder and President — In Memoriam
Jeff Hyland was a renowned real estate expert and Co-Founder and President of Hilton & Hyland, the highest producing single office luxury boutique brokerage in the world. He was named “The Gatekeeper of Beverly Hills” by Town & Country and is the author of “The Legendary Estates of Beverly Hills,” a book that celebrates the history and architectural significance of Southern California’s famed properties.
Hyland served as President of the Beverly Hills Board of Realtors, President of the Los Angeles County Board of Real Estate, and as State Director for the California Association of Realtors. He holds the record for two of the most expensive listings sold in the United States.
OUR LEADERSHIP
Michael Jalbert
Chief Executive Officer and Board Member
Michael leads Forbes Global Properties with more than two decades of proven experience in the global residential real estate industry, specifically focusing on the development and expansion of far-reaching international affiliate networks. Before Forbes Global Properties, Michael served as the Executive Vice President of Global Business Development at HSF Affiliates LLC, where he worked with the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices teams, and specifically focused on the development and expansion of the international network. Prior to that, Michael was Vice Chairman and Partner at ERA Europe where he led the organization’s successful growth efforts.
El Moriarty
Chief Operating Officer
With more than a decade of experience in the prestige real estate sector, El has extensive expertise in driving international luxury brands to increased awareness and global recognition. Prior to Forbes Global Properties, El served as a Vice President at Christie’s International Real Estate, where she worked for more than six years in various senior marketing and client services roles. Previous to that role, El was Marketing Director at LA-based real estate firm Hackman Capital Partners.
Lisa Gluck
Chief Digital Officer
Drawing from deep experience in technology and operations leadership, Lisa leads Forbes Global Properties’ digital strategy and product development. Most recently, she served as the Senior Vice President of Digital Services at Christie’s International Real Estate where she was responsible for digital strategy and operations, technology governance, and guiding corporate interests in emerging technologies for over 100 affiliated brokerages worldwide. Prior to that role, Lisa was a Senior Vice President of Information Services at The Nielsen Company where she oversaw technology programs for global data collection and analysis for multiple lines of business.
Marcus Benussi
Director of Business Development
Marcus Benussi, an operations integrator and strategic planner, drives growth-oriented business transformation with a big-picture perspective. As a Business Partner at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices MAGGI Properties in Milan (2018-2023), he expanded the brand across Italy. As the owner of Marcus Benussi Unternehmens- und Rechtsberatung in Munich since 2006, he steered investment projects and M&A operations in Europe. His role as International Key Account Manager at the Law Firm Benussi & Tagliaferri (2005-2020) involved serving clients in family office/trust establishment and real estate. Marcus holds Global Executive MBA degrees, a Master’s in International Law, and is fluent in German, Italian, Spanish, and English.
Elaine Brens
Marketing Director
Elaine is a creative and multifaceted marketing expert bringing extensive experience in international luxury real estate marketing. She began her career in real estate more than ten years ago at Christie’s International Real Estate in Manhattan, where she developed and implemented large-scale marketing and branding initiatives. In that capacity, she provided direct property promotion through diverse print and digital platforms. Elaine is a licensed real estate professional and holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Ramapo College of New Jersey. She is fluent in Spanish.
Leo Montan
Creative Director
Leo is an experienced and highly skilled Graphic Designer with over 20 years in the industry, specializing in corporate brand identity and marketing materials. Fluent in Spanish, Leo has a diverse background that includes working as a Creative Director for Christie’s International Real Estate, where he was responsible for the development and implementation of the brand, as well as the creation of proposals for highly confidential properties and the development of conference branding materials. Leo is known for his attention to detail and versatility in print and digital design.
Kaysha Velarde-Wilson
Sr. Manager, Marketing & Operations
Kaysha has over 18 years of experience in luxury real estate, with a strong background in marketing and business operations. She excels in building and nurturing relationships. She has held management roles in business operations, business development, marketing, and client services in various industries. She notably managed the content, production and distribution for Christie’s International Real Estate Magazine for over a decade. Kaysha graduated cum laude with a degree in Business Administration, played collegiate golf, and was recognized as an NAIA All-American.
Kitty Finstad
Editor
An award-winning editor and former Chair of the British Society of Magazine Editors, Kitty spent over 20 years in London, where she led editorial teams for travel, F+B, wealth management and luxury clients, including The Goodwood Estate, Moët Hennessy, UBS, Investec Private Bank and AllBright private members’ club. She has also scripted and produced a prime property podcast for Barclays Private Bank. Kitty writes for The Times, is a volunteer non-executive director, and speaks pretty decent French. Originally from Alberta, Canada, she now lives in Scotland, which in places looks like a miniature Alberta.
Nielsen Dinwoodie
Editor
Half-Danish and therefore good at Lego, Nielsen studied architecture – until journalism and copywriting in major ad agencies built his career around words. He gained a Masters in American Poetry and taught creative writing for the University of Maryland. Following teaching stints in Barcelona, Paris and London, in 2005 he established his own comms agency. His editorial work has won multiple competitive tenders for construction giants, and enhanced the market profiles of property developers, urban place-makers and many luxury lifestyle brands. He lives amidst the storied Scottish air of his native Glasgow.
Spencer Elliott
Content Manager
While obtaining a degree in English from the University of Illinois-Champaign, Spencer fulfilled a childhood dream of being a carpenter. Simultaneously studying the works of the world’s preeminent authors and laboring on a residential remodeling crew, he fostered a sincere appreciation for both the written word and home design. The marriage of these two experiences would fittingly lead to a career in architectural writing. Starting with the Hot Property section of the Los Angeles Times, he began contributing to Forbes in 2020, where he has since published more than 200 articles on their online platform. He currently serves as the Content Manager for Forbes Global Properties, continuing to produce and build out editorial stories, as well as marketing and social content.
OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Matt Beall (Chair)
Hawai’i Life
Matt Beall draws from 25 years of residential real estate experience. He co-founded Hawaii Life in 2008 and the company quickly became the market leader in luxury real estate sales across the island chain. Under his leadership, Hawaii Life has enjoyed consistent growth and success and today is regarded as the top-producing real estate brokerage in the State of Hawaii. Over the course of his career, Matt has held a variety of board and leadership positions, including President of the Kauai Board of Realtors and as a member of Hawaii Association of Realtors’ executive committee. Currently, he is on the board of the Hawaii Land Trust, a land conservation organization with over 22,000 acres in perpetual conservation.
Andy Nelson (Vice Chair)
Willis Allen
Andy grew up in Del Mar, and graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara. After serving in the United States Navy as a flight officer during the Vietnam conflict, he returned to California in 1972. Upon his return, he built a mountain home in Mammoth Lakes, about 400 miles north of San Diego, which he still owns today. This enjoyable experience, paired with his natural affinity for people and his drive for success, inspired a career in residential real estate starting in 1974. Andy has served as President of Willis Allen Real Estate, since 1980, and as President and Owner since 1995. Willis Allen Real Estate is now the largest independently operated real estate company in Southern California.
Nikki Koval (Secretary)
Forbes Media LLC
Nikki Koval is the Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of Forbes and has been with Forbes since 2004 where a main focus of her position is on Forbes’ international licensing and brand expansion program as well as protection of Forbes’ intellectual property. Prior to joining Forbes, she worked as Licensing Counsel at Hearst Magazine. Nikki holds a JD from Cardozo School of Law with a focus on media and intellectual property law. Additionally, she serves on the board of Forbes Global Properties, leveraging her media expertise while representing the interests and investment of Forbes Media in the Forbes Global Properties brand.
Olivier de Chabot-Tramecourt
Groupe Mercure
Olivier de Chabot-Tramecourt is an expert in luxury real-estate and since 2016, Managing Director of Groupe Mercure. For more than 80 years, Groupe Mercure has been selling prestigious properties throughout France and particularly in Paris and the French Riviera. One of its major areas of expertise is the sale of chateaux and heritage properties in France. After experiences at Citibank and Generali, Olivier de Chabot-Tramecourt specialized in prestigious properties through his financing and insurance before taking the management of Groupe Mercure. Olivier de Chabot-Tramecourt is a member of the national federation of real estate agents (FNAIM), the French association of real estate agents.
Quentin Epiney
FGP Swiss & Alps
Quentin Epiney is a passionate and driven entrepreneur. Founder of FGP Swiss & Alps, board member and chief executive within the Comptoir Immobilier Group, prop-tech entrepreneur as well as board member of various real estate related ventures, Quentin’s vision focuses on value creation, business ethics and of course, bringing his client’s dreams to reality. Operated by an elite team of professionals, FGP Swiss and Alps is dedicated to the most exclusive estates located in Switzerland as well as the French Alps. Founding member of Forbes Global Properties, the firm is a subsidiary of Comptoir Immobilier Group, Switzerland’s oldest property management firm with roots dating back to 1825, where values of excellence, discretion and elegance are paramount.
Lori Hyland
Hilton & Hyland
Lori is Chairman and owner of Hilton & Hyland succeeding her husband Jeff Hyland who founded the company 30 years ago with Rick Hilton. Hilton & Hyland is the preeminent luxury real estate brokerage in Beverly Hills, with 2022 sales exceeding $3.6 billion and an average sales price of $6.8 million. The company represents clients world-wide, guided by their founder’s core principles of integrity, knowledge, and research. Before becoming the sole owner of Hilton & Hyland, Lori enjoyed a career as a fine artist and writer. Lori graduated from the University of Southern California and did postgraduate studies at Pratt Institute in New York. She is an animal and environmental advocate.
Ken Jacobs
Private Property Global
Ken Jacobs is one of the foremost figures in Australian real estate, a consummate professional who has been responsible for many of the nation’s largest and most important property transactions. For more than three decades Ken has been entrusted with the sale of some of the most significant homes and estates in Australia and, in return, has achieved numerous Australian price records for his vendors. During his career, Ken has held senior leadership roles with some of the world’s distinguished real estate corporations, working at the highest level across multiple sectors. Ken is recognized not just for his success in the sales arena but also his ability to craft and execute some of the world’s finest and most exciting property campaigns.
Jose Ribes Bas
Rimontgó
José Ribes Bas is a co-owner and co-CEO of Rimontgó, a third-generation family business. He, along with his brother Antonio, has received the Luxury Real Estate’s Lifetime Achievement Award and serves on the board of the Official Real Estate Property Agents’ Board in Spain. José Ribes Bas is actively involved in various international real estate organizations, holding influential positions and providing advisory services. He is recognized as an expert in valuations through his collaboration with the Spanish Association of Public Developers of Land and Real Property. Under his leadership, Rimontgó has become a renowned and modern organization with a global focus, offering exceptional customer service and a team of highly skilled professionals dedicated to serving an discerning international clientele.
Mark Smith
Slifer Smith & Frampton
Mark Smith is a founding principal and Managing Partner of Slifer Smith & Frampton and was a founding principal of both East West Partners and Union Station Neighborhood Company. Mark has decades of experience in real estate development, sales and marketing. A native of Denver, Colorado, Mark holds an undergraduate degree in real estate and a master’s degree in management. He has also been acknowledged for his leadership and vision in master planning and development of both Riverfront Park and Union Station in Denver. Both communities were recipients of the Urban Land Institute Global Award for Excellence. Most recently, Mark has been named as a 2023 Colorado Business Hall of Fame laureate.
Forbes Global Properties is a network of more than 500 brokerage offices in 27 countries worldwide—across the Americas, Asia, Australasia, Europe and the Middle East. All are established leaders in their respective prime property markets.
