Financial Services >> CEO Interviews >> September 23, 2013

Interview with the Founder, Chairman and CEO: Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (ARE)

Marcus, Joel S.
Joel S. Marcus is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., the largest and leading real estate investment trust focused on owning, operating and developing high-quality, sustainable real estate for the broad and diverse life science industry. Mr. Marcus founded the company in 1994 as a garage startup with a business plan and $19 million of seed capital, and has led its growth into a publicly traded, investment-grade REIT with a total market capitalization of approximately $8 billion. Mr. Marcus cofounded and leads Alexandria Venture Investments, the company’s strategic venture arm. Mr. Marcus also cofounded the Alexandria Summit, an annual, invitation-only gathering of the world's foremost to advance the most important health science issues. Prior to founding Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., Mr. Marcus was formerly a practicing Certified Public Accountant and Tax Manager with Arthur Young & Co., focusing on the financing and taxation of REITs. Mr. Marcus serves on the boards of the Accelerator Corporation, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy, Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences, Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc., Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, the Partnership for New York City and Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc. Mr. Marcus received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Los Angeles — Real Estate. He completed his undergraduate degree and Juris Doctor at the University of California, Los Angeles. Profile
TWST: If you would, please start by introducing readers to the company with a little bit of the history of Alexandria.

Mr. Marcus: Alexandria was started in 1994 as a garage