The University of Utah today announced the retirement of Chief Real Estate Officer John Creer, recognizing his decades of leadership in commercial real estate and his contributions to the university’s growth and development efforts. John had recently headed the transition of the university’s real estate group to the university’s foundation (University of Utah Growth Capital Partners Foundation).
John will retire from his executive role at the foundation, but will continue in a strategic advisory capacity, assisting with leadership transition and select real estate initiatives. Danny Wall will assume full leadership of University Real Estate Partners at the foundation.
John joined the University of Utah in 2022, bringing nearly 35 years of experience across public and private sector real estate. He joined the university at a time of significant expansion, helping guide real estate strategy in support of institutional priorities. Notably, John led the university’s first public-private partnership in real estate which we now see reaching completion in the form of the new student housing east of the Huntsman Arena. He also initiated and led the strategic acquisitions that will form the nucleus of a downtown Salt Lake City university campus, a health care campus in Vinyard, and a more robust Research Park.
Prior to joining the U, John led Arizona State University’s real estate office beginning in 2013. He oversaw the development of five innovation districts in the Phoenix area, including the Pheonix Biomedical campus, Omni Hotel and Miraballa alumni housing, hockey arena, and multiple mixed-use projects. Earlier, he worked with Trammell Crow Company, co-managing the Los Angeles Unified School District’s $28 billion capital program and helping develop a $3.5 billion master plan for public and charter schools, including a K–12 teacher housing initiative.
“John has brought deep expertise and focused leadership to the university during an important period of growth,” said University of Utah President Taylor Randall. “His experience and energetic approach have helped position the U to advance key real-estate development initiatives and strengthen our impact in the community. We are grateful for his contributions.”