Arnav Vaid, 27

Growing up in India in a family that had developed commercial properties in Mumbai, Arnav Vaid couldn’t help but be drawn into the world of acquisitions and property development, particularly the mathematical and creative elements of the business.

“As a curious person, I’d ask a lot of questions and knew it was an interesting field because there’s a tangible asset at the end of the day,” he explained.  

That curiosity brought him to New York City, where he studied at the Schack Institute of Real Estate at New York University. For the last two and a half years, Vaid has grown his career at AmTrust, a family-run firm that specializes in office properties in New York and Chicago, and holds a portfolio of more than 12 million square feet. He now works directly under the firm’s president, Jonathan Bennett.  

“A family office using family capital, you don’t have to answer to investors or a particular investment thesis — you have flexibility and opportunity to grow,” said Vaid. “In less than three years, I’ve gone from being a part-time analyst to a full-time associate and running the acquisition process under Jonathan, and having a significant involvement in the business’ asset management.”

Major deals Vaid’s been involved in include quarterbacking the firm’s $65 million acquisition of 360 Lexington Avenue, a 268,000-square-foot office tower in Midtown Manhattan that AmTrust purchased for one-third of its previous price. Within six months of closing the deal, AmTrust has seen occupancy in the tower increase from 60 percent to 80 percent. 

Vaid argued that the deal is the perfect encapsulation of his firm’s strategy of remaining cautious during market highs but choosing to move opportunistically during periods of dislocation.

“It’s a patient, calculated strategy that has positioned us well for long-term success,” he said.