Inland Taps Blackstone Vet to Lead Major Private Wealth Expansion

OAK BROOK, IL – March 02, 2026 – The Inland Real Estate Group, LLC, a titan in the U.S. commercial real estate sector, has appointed accomplished executive Michael Collins as Head of Global Wealth for its dealer-manager arm, Inland Securities Corporation. The move signals a significant strategic push to expand the firm’s reach beyond its institutional roots and capture a larger share of the burgeoning private wealth market, targeting individual investors and their advisors.

Collins, who brings over 25 years of experience from top-tier firms including Blackstone and Kennedy Wilson, will report to Tony Chereso, CEO and President of The Inland Real Estate Companies, LLC. He is tasked with a formidable agenda: building a world-class financial advisory team, enhancing distribution capabilities, and unifying the company’s sales and operations to aggressively grow its presence in the retail wealth management channel.

A Strategic Pivot to the Retail Investor

For decades, private market real estate has been the exclusive domain of large institutions and the ultra-wealthy. However, a powerful market trend is underway: the “democratization” of alternative investments. Inland’s appointment of Collins is a clear and calculated bet on this shift. The firm, with its 57-year history and a staggering $125 billion in collective commercial real estate transactions, is now aiming to leverage its institutional brand to become a leader for individual investors seeking access to private market solutions.

“Capitalizing on Inland’s rich history and established institutional brand, Michael will reposition and grow Inland’s presence as a leader in the retail wealth management channel,” commented Chereso. This repositioning is not merely a new marketing slogan; it represents a fundamental strategic realignment to serve a new class of clientele.

The move comes as high-net-worth individual (HNWI) wealth is rebounding globally, with investors increasingly looking beyond traditional stocks and bonds for diversification and growth. Alternative investments, particularly private equity and real estate, are at the top of their shopping lists. Inland’s deep expertise in sponsoring alternative investment programs positions it well to meet this demand, provided it can build the right distribution network to reach this fragmented but massive market.

The Architect of Expansion

To lead this ambitious charge, Inland has secured a leader whose career has been defined by building the very bridges between private markets and individual capital that the company now seeks to construct. Collins’ resume reads like a blueprint for the role. He was previously a Managing Director at Hunter Point Capital and a Partner at Easterly Asset Management, where he led distribution and managed relationships across the entire wealth spectrum, from wirehouses and RIAs to family offices and pension funds.

Crucially, his experience includes serving as a member of Blackstone’s first Private Wealth Solutions sales team, a group that was instrumental in pioneering the distribution of private equity products to individual investors. He also headed investor relations at real estate investment firm Kennedy Wilson, where he was tasked with expanding its private client business. This direct, hands-on experience in creating and scaling private wealth platforms at some of the industry's most respected names provides him with a unique strategic playbook.

“I am extremely excited to be joining Inland and partnering with its leadership at such a pivotal moment in its growth,” said Collins. “The opportunity to lead both the sales and operations teams as we expand our global wealth platform is incredibly energizing. I look forward to building on Inland’s 57-year track record and working with its 1,200-plus professionals to deliver meaningful solutions, strengthen partnerships, and drive long‑term value for investors.”

Navigating a Crowded and Complex Market

Inland’s strategic push does not occur in a vacuum. The firm enters an increasingly competitive arena where established alternative asset managers like Blackstone, KKR, and Apollo are also aggressively courting individual investors. These giants are formidable competitors with massive brand recognition and distribution power. Simultaneously, a wave of agile fintech platforms like Fundrise, CrowdStreet, and Yieldstreet have emerged, using technology to lower investment minimums and provide unprecedented access to commercial real estate deals for a broader audience.

Furthermore, the macroeconomic environment presents its own set of challenges. The recent period of elevated interest rates has put significant pressure on the commercial real estate sector, increasing borrowing costs, compressing valuations, and complicating deal flow. While the market anticipates future rate cuts, navigating the current climate requires sophisticated underwriting and a selective investment strategy.

Despite these headwinds, the opportunity remains substantial. The global pool of HNWI wealth continues to expand, and their allocation to alternatives is projected to grow significantly over the next decade. By bringing an institutional-quality product suite to the retail market, backed by a long and proven track record, Inland aims to differentiate itself from both the established giants and the newer digital platforms.

Unifying Operations for a New Era

A key element of Collins’ mandate is to bring Inland’s sales and operations teams under a unified leadership structure. This internal integration is critical to the success of the external expansion strategy. By breaking down silos, the company aims to create a seamless experience for both financial advisors and their end clients, from initial engagement and education through to investment execution and reporting.

This integrated approach is designed to help Inland scale its platform efficiently, ensuring that as the volume of investors and transactions grows, the quality of the client experience and operational excellence are not compromised. For financial advisors, a streamlined process and a single point of contact for both sales support and operational inquiries can be a powerful differentiator in a crowded marketplace.

As Tony Chereso noted, Collins' deep experience across both sales and operations makes him uniquely suited for this task. “His commitment to excellence makes him an exceptional fit for this role, and I am confident that his leadership will be instrumental as we continue to expand Inland’s reach and strive to build meaningful value for our investors,” he stated. This strategic hire is more than just a new name on the executive roster; it represents Inland's comprehensive plan to build the infrastructure necessary to become a dominant force in the private real estate wealth management space.