Principal, CIM Group

Avi Shemesh co-founded CIM Group with Shaul Kuba and Richard Ressler in 1994. Shemesh is on the firm’s investment and asset management committees and leads CIM’s day-to-day operations, including strategic initiatives, property management and leasing and investor relations. The company has developed more than $60 billion of commercial real estate and infrastructure projects. In addition to its U.S. offices, CIM also has an office in Tokyo. The company now has nearly 1,000 employees and operates beyond its Southern California headquarters. Before founding CIM, Shemesh and Kuba were co-founders of Dekel Development, which handled commercial and multifamily properties in Los Angeles.

YEARS ON THE LA500: 7