Jorge M. Pérez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Related Group, has been at the forefront of South Florida’s complex urban evolution for over 35 years. A commitment to “building better cities,” and a natural ability to identify emerging trends has made his one of the most trusted and influential names in real estate. Armed with a dynamic selection of land parcels, new financing techniques, the collective strength of Related’s management team and a pipeline of more than 90,000 residential and commercial units, Pérez is set to answer the demands and desires of a new generation.

Pérez started out in the 1970’s, making a name for himself by developing public housing projects throughout underserved neighborhoods such as Miami’s Little Havana and Homestead. His attention to detail and commitment to creating quality living environments distinguished him within the marketplace and laid the groundwork for future Related projects. More than three decades later, his continued passion for vibrant urban communities has made him a trendsetter, often the first developer to enter emerging or undiscovered neighborhoods. 

Over the years, Pérez and The Related Group have partnered with world-class names in architecture and interior design. Collaborations with creative luminaries like Bernardo Fort Brescia, David Rockwell, Philippe Starck, Yabu Pushelberg, Piero Lissoni, Karim Rashid and many others have produced neighborhood-defining projects, and established Related’s developments as integral components of Miami’s evolving cityscape. 

A lover of art and an avid collector, Pérez infuses each development with carefully selected pieces from master artists. Works by Fernando Botero, Jaume Plensa, Julio LeParc and Fabian Burgos are proudly displayed at Related developments, complementing each building’s unique character and often serving as public fixtures of the community landscape.

Mr. Pérez is deeply involved in supporting Miami’s ongoing cultural renaissance, sponsoring programs like the Miami International Film Festival’s Emerging Cuban Independent Film/Video Artists Program and The National Young Arts Foundation’s Residency in Visual Arts. Most notably, Pérez donated well over $40 million to the Herzog & de Meuron-designed Pérez Art Museum Miami, or PAMM. He is also a member of the University of Miami’s Board of Trustees and chairs the Miami-Dade Cultural Affairs Council.

Mr. Pérez has received numerous awards for his professional and philanthropic achievements, including Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year, the Hispanic Achievement & Business Entrepreneurship Award from Hispanic Magazine, The Developers and Builders Alliance’s Community Advancement Award, and The Beacon Council’s 2015 Jay Malina Award. Mr. Pérez is also committed to The Giving Pledge, a campaign founded by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates to which states he will donate 50 percent of his wealth to philanthropy. In 2005, TIME Magazine named Mr. Pérez one of the top 25 most influential Hispanics in the United States, and he has appeared on the cover of FORBES twice.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina to Cuban parents, Pérez grew up in Bogota, Colombia. He graduated summa cum laude from C.W. Post College in Long Island, and earned his Master’s in Urban Planning from the University of Michigan.