Investor Relations

Press Release

Equity Residential Appoints Mary Kay Haben to Board of Trustees

Company Release - 7/12/2011

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR) announced today’s appointment of Mary Kay Haben to the company’s Board of Trustees to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders. Ms. Haben qualifies as an independent trustee under the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards.

Ms. Haben, 55, served as the President - North America for the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, a leading confectionary company, until her retirement in February 2011. Prior to joining Wrigley in 2007, Ms. Haben held various executive positions during her 27-year career at Kraft Foods Inc., a global consumer products company. She most recently served as Senior Vice President - Open Innovation, leading the company’s innovation processes targeted at bringing outside ideas into the company. She previously served as Senior Vice President of Global Convenience Meals, Grocery and Snacks Sector and President - Cheese, Enhancers and Meals. From 2004 to 2007, Ms. Haben served on the Board of Directors of Liz Claiborne, Inc.

“Mary Kay has a tremendous amount of experience in building brands and meeting the needs of consumers for leading global food companies. She will bring valuable insights and perspective to our Board as Equity Residential continues to focus on ways to engage with our current and future residents,” said David J. Neithercut, Equity Residential’s President and 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 421 properties totaling 120760 apartment units. For more information on Equity Residential, please visit our website at www.equityapartments.com.

Source: Equity Residential

Contact:

Equity Residential

Marty McKenna, (312) 928-1901