CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR) today announced the appointment of Mark Shapiro to the company's Board of Trustees, effective as of January 26, 2010, to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders. Mr. Shapiro qualifies as an independent trustee under the New York Stock Exchange's listing standards.

Mr. Shapiro, 39, is the Chief Executive Officer of Six Flags, Inc. (OTC BB: SIXFQ.OB), the world's largest regional theme park company. Prior to joining Six Flags in 2005, Mr. Shapiro spent 12 years at ESPN where he bore significant responsibility for many of the sports and entertainment properties that built the television network into one of the world's strongest multimedia brands. He serves as a director of Live Nation (NYSE: LYV) and the Tribune Company. Mr. Shapiro holds a B.A. from the University of Iowa.

"We are very pleased to have Mark as a member of Equity Residential's Board," said David J. Neithercut, Equity Residential's President and CEO. "We will benefit greatly from his background in marketing and branding as well as his experience as a public company CEO."

Equity Residential is an S&P 500 company focused on the acquisition, development and management of high quality apartment properties in top U.S. growth markets. Equity Residential owns or has investments in 494 properties totaling 136,843 units. For more information on Equity Residential, please visit our website at www.equityresidential.com.

    Source: Equity Residential