A global real estate investment leader, Robert Zerbst began his career in real estate education and research. Robert (Bob) Zerbst received his PhD in finance and real estate economics from The Ohio State University, where he also received an MBA in finance. He went on to hold assistant professor positions at the University of South Carolina, the University of British Columbia, and ultimately, Southern Methodist University, where he received tenure in 1981.

In the same year, Bob Zerbst founded Piedmont Realty Advisors, a real estate investment management group he led as CEO until its merger with RREEF Funds in 1991. He then became a partner at RREEF, where he oversaw investments across the United State and guided all investment activity in the western region.

Bob Zerbst went on to become the CEO of CBRE Global Investors, where he oversaw all strategy and policy developments. In this position, he brought the firm into the global market and expanded its assets under management by more than 850 percent to $44B.