Industrial Investment and Management Firm Focuses on Rapid Growth & Expansion
HOUSTON (MAY 2022)—Margaret E. Fitzgerald has been named Chief Financial Officer of SparrowHawk, the Houston-based industrial real estate investment and management firm. Fitzgerald brings more than 20 years of accounting, financial management and compliance- experience to the organization. For the last 14 years, Fitzgerald was an executive with Hines Interests, serving in positions in Houston as well as in Luxembourg.
The appointment was announced by SparrowHawk CEO and Founder Alfredo Gutierrez. He notes that as the industrial marketplace nationally continues to enjoy significant tailwinds, SparrowHawk has aggressive plans to rapidly expand its footprint nationally, growing to $1 billion in assets under management (AUM) within the next several years.
“I continue to believe there are great opportunities to make strategic acquisitions, effectively manage portfolios and produce significant returns for our growing number of investors, in spite of some macro market issues now challenging the economy,” Gutierrez said. “The addition of Margaret Fitzgerald, a professional with her extraordinary experience and expertise, immediately puts us in a better position to accomplish the growth plans we have for SparrowHawk.”
As CFO, Fitzgerald will assume the significant responsibilities that come with the financial operations of a real estate firm that owns more than 3.0 million square feet valued in excess of $250 million in markets across the U.S. Fitzgerald will specifically oversee internal and external financial reporting, the annual external audit, investor relations and reporting, forecasting, debt compliance, cash management, financial modeling for acquisitions and leasing, budgeting, and insurance and risk management
“I am very excited about this opportunity to get back to the day-to-day real estate business and financial operations of a growth-minded, entrepreneurial organization with big goals and aspirations,” Fitzgerald said. “SparrowHawk has a great platform and tremendous potential and I am eager to now be part of the team that can bring best-in-class processes and systems that will help the firm achieve its goals.”
Most recently, in a position she characterized as “an incredible, life-changing opportunity” she served as VP, Investment Accounting-Europe at Hines Interests Luxembourg office. Chief among her responsibilities included implementing improvements to financial reporting and consolidation processes under IFRS and Lux GAAP; leading the review and standardization of processes and procedures; and coordinating the audits of investment vehicles with regular ongoing contact with external auditors, investors, and financial institutions. Additionally, she worked closely with Hines’ European and Investment Management leadership.
Fitzgerald began her career at KPMG in Houston, subsequently was a Staff Accountant for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and an Associate Director for Navigant Consulting. Ultimately, in 2008 she began her career with Hines Interests in Houston.
Fitzgerald graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. degree in Accounting from Southwestern University. She is a Certified Public Accountant in Texas.