About ORB Advisory Group, LLC
ORB Advisory Group, LLC provides strategic consulting and advisory services to public- and private-sector investors, developers, operators and institutions across real estate, infrastructure and trade & logistics.
Founded in 2013, ORB brings extensive international public- and private-sector leadership experience to complex strategic, investment, development, transaction and operating challenges. The firm’s perspective is grounded in the practical requirements of aligning strategy, capital, public objectives and operating realities across complex assets, projects and organizations.
ORB also brings substantial experience at the public/private interface, including public/private partnerships, long-term agreements, complex transactions, infrastructure and real estate development, and the alignment of public objectives with private-sector investment.
Omar R. Benjamin, Managing Director
Omar R. Benjamin is the Managing Director of ORB Advisory Group, LLC and brings more than 25 years of international public- and private-sector experience in real estate, infrastructure, trade & logistics and related investment and development activities.
Professional Experience
Mr. Benjamin spent 14 years with the Port of Oakland, including five years as Executive Director and service as Director of Commercial Real Estate. As Executive Director, he held responsibility for an organization encompassing a major U.S. seaport, an international airport and an extensive commercial real estate portfolio.
During his Port tenure, Mr. Benjamin led the negotiation and execution of innovative public/private partnerships for new maritime leases that generated more than $1 billion in long-term revenue and significant private-sector investment.
Prior to the Port of Oakland, Mr. Benjamin served as Chief Operating Officer for Al Anwa USA Inc. and Newfield Enterprises International, with responsibility for investment, development and business operations. His work included restructuring and repositioning real estate investment activities and restoring positive cash flow to an investment portfolio within two years.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Benjamin spent four years as an investment manager with The First Investment Capital Corporation in Paris, France, gaining international investment experience involving a $300 million portfolio across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the United States.
Across his career, Mr. Benjamin has managed the development, approval and construction of more than $3 billion in trade & logistics, infrastructure, commercial real estate, mixed-use and waterfront real estate projects. These activities have involved multiple investment and financing structures, including public/private partnerships and diverse sources of capital.
Community and Industry Leadership
Mr. Benjamin has maintained a longstanding commitment to community and industry involvement, including service with boards, commissions and organizations addressing economic development, infrastructure, ports, real estate and the arts.
Notable affiliations have included:
- California Association of Port Authorities
- California Commission for Economic Development
- American Association of Port Authorities
- Urban Land Institute Public Development and Infrastructure Council
- Bay Area Council
- Paramount Theatre of the Arts
- Oakland Economic Development Corporation