The new owner of Chicago-based tenant representation firm Equis Corp. has promoted David Montross to serve as CEO.

Montross served as Equis’ chief operating officer for the past 4 years. He takes the helm from Equis founder and former president Michael Silver, who will serve in a strategic advisory role.

Equis’ parent company, Australia-based United Group Limited (ASX: UGL), announced the change in leadership on July 25, shortly after closing its acquisition of Equis for approximately $120 million from Silver and a family trust.

“Equis’ very capable senior management team will continue to manage the company’s business under the leadership of Mr. Montross,” Richard Leupen, United Group’s managing director and CEO, stated in the announcement.

As the leader of Equis’ government services group, Montross created the strategy and resources that led to Equis’ engagement as real estate advisor to the states of California, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin, as well as other governmental agencies. His responsibilities include oversight of corporate clients whose global real estate portfolios total more than 800 million sq. ft.

Before joining Equis, Montross served as a managing director of Jones Lang LaSalle. He has represented blue-chip companies in 75 markets globally.

United Group, with the addition of Equis, now comprises 3,300 personnel providing global real estate services to multinational clients. Based in Sydney, Australia, United Group now has more than 12,000 employees in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, United States and the United Kingdom.