It is with sadness that CoreNet Global reports the death of H. Bruce Russell, a leader in the association first as a member and later as a senior staff member.

Russell served in numerous executive roles during a career of more than 30 years at Eastman Kodak, including head of corporate real estate, and was President of IDRC (e.g., the equivalent of today’s CoreNet Global Chair). He later served as President of The IDRC Foundation, IDRC’s research and learning arm, where he established partnership programs for end users and service providers, interactive discovery sessions, an annual industry leader’s roundtable, and an award to recognize innovation in corporate real estate.

Russell played a pivotal role in the high-level discussions between IDRC (International Development Research Council) and NACORE (National Association of Corporate Real Estate Executives) that led to the integration of the two associations and the formation of CoreNet Global more than 20 years ago. He served as CoreNet Global’s first Chief Learning Officer before his retirement. It was upon his retirement that CoreNet Global chose to honor Russell by rebranding its annual award for innovation in corporate real estate as the H. Bruce Russell Global Innovator’s Award.

A memorial gathering will take place at 11:00am on Sunday, May 28 in the All Seasons Chapel at White Haven Memorial Park in Pittsford, N.Y.