BREIT 2018 Proxy Statement

funds and open-end funds. Mr. Griffith was also a member of the management committee of the Virginia Retirement System and was directly involved in the pension fund’s asset allocation and investment management process. From 1999 to 2004, he was a senior executive at BGK Properties (now Gemini Rosemont Commercial Real Estate) and was engaged in real estate portfolio management activities for the private real investment group. From 1985 to 1999, Mr. Griffith was employed in the real estate investment group for UNUM Life Insurance Company engaged in mortgage and equity underwriting, structuring, property acquisitions and asset management oversight, culminating in his role as portfolio manager of the commercial real estate equity group. From 1983- 1985, he worked in the real estate investment group at Phoenix Life Insurance Company. Mr. Griffith is a Chartered Financial Analyst and received a B.A. from Beloit College and an M.B.A. from the University of Washington. From 2007 to 2013, he served as a board member of the Pension Real Estate Association. Mr. Griffith is a valuable member of our board of directors because of his extensive experience with real estate investments. Edward Lewis has been a director of the Company since July 2016. From 2000 until February 2017, he was Senior Advisor to Solera Capital, a private equity firm. In 1969, he co-founded Essence Communications Partners, a multimedia company targeting African-American women, serving as CEO, publisher and Chairman for 35 years. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the New York Academy of Medicine. Previously, he served on the boards of Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (NYSE: GAP), the Apollo Theater Foundation, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the Economic Club of New York. He also served as chairman of the Magazine Publishers of America from 1997 to 1999, becoming the first African-American to hold this position in the 75-year history of the organization. He received a BA and MA in Political Science and International Affairs from the University of New Mexico. Mr. Lewis is a valuable member of our board because of his experience as founder and chairman of Essence Communications, as well as the skills he gained during his active board service to a number of diverse organizations. VOTING RECOMMENDATION OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE. 8