Sept 19 (Reuters) - Blackstone said on Friday it

has appointed Katie Keenan as the CEO of its real estate income

trust and global head of the Core+ business.

Keenan has served in several leadership roles at the firm in

her tenure of over a decade. She currently serves as the global

co-chief investment officer of Blackstone's real estate debt

strategies and CEO of mortgage trust.

She succeeds Wesley LePatner in both roles after her tragic

death. LePatner, a senior executive at Blackstone, was gunned

down in July when a gunman opened fire as she was leaving her

Midtown Manhattan office.

LePatner's death was at random. Neither she nor

Blackstone was specifically targeted.

Blackstone also named Zaneta Koplewicz as the

co-president and director of the real estate income trust.