#USA #New York #CRE Finance Council #Josh Brand #Lee Green

CREFC Announces New Chairs for Industry Forums

In a significant announcement, the CRE Finance Council (CREFC) has revealed its newly elected chairs for the 2025-2026 forums during their Annual June Conference held in New York City. This leadership plays an integral role in shaping discussions surrounding the U.S. commercial real estate finance industry.

The forums, which represent unique market segments, drive critical dialogue and collaboration within the industry. The leadership structure includes various constituencies such as Alternative Lenders, CMBS Investors, and Servicers, each addressing specific issues pertinent to their sectors. This year, the new leaders will focus on unifying diverging perspectives, advocating best practices, and fostering a consensus among policymakers.

Newly Elected Forum Chairs

The CREFC's newly elected leaders encompass a myriad of roles across the forums:

• - B-Piece Investors Forum: Chair Frank Yin (KKR), Chair-Elect Josh Brand (Argentic), and Past Chair Peter Lindner (Rialto Capital Advisors).

• - GSE/Multifamily Lenders Forum: Chair David Haynes (CBRE Multifamily Capital, Inc.), Chair-Elect Lee Green (Wells Fargo), and Past Chair Ahmed Hasan (Capital One).

• - Investment-Grade Bondholders Forum: Chair Adam Smith (DWS), Chair-Elect Wendy Pei (Ellington Management), and Past Chair Rajesh Bansal (Quiq Capital).

• - Issuers Forum: Chair Shaishav Agarwal (Deutsche Bank), Chair-Elect Scott Epperson (Goldman Sachs), and Past Chair Brigid M. Mattingly (Wells Fargo).

• - Portfolio Lenders Forum:

- Bank Lender Subforum: Chair Kristin Khanna (Barclays), Chair-Elect Bridget Scanlon (Morgan Stanley), and Past Chair Robert Grudzinski (U.S. Bank).
- Insurance Company Lenders Subforum: Chair Melissa Farrell (PGIM), Chair-Elect Kevin Catlett (Principal Real Estate Investors), and Past Chair Kevin Pivnick (Blackstone).

• - Servicers Forum: Co-Chairs Dana Jo Martino (Berkadia) and Alex Killick (CWCapital), along with Chairs-Elect Amanda Dugat (SitusAMC) and Brett Mann (LNR Partners).

Interestingly, this year also sees continuity in leadership among the Alternative Lenders and High-Yield Investors Forum with Chair Samantha Rotchford (BDT MSD Partners) and Past Chair Samir Tejpaul (Madison Realty Capital).

The Purpose and Goals of CREFC Forums

CREFC's industry forums serve as platforms for members to engage with their peers, sharing insights and addressing challenges unique to their fields. This collaborative environment fosters the development of best practices and market standards while providing educational opportunities for participants. According to Lisa Pendergast, the President and CEO of CREFC, these forums are crucial for advocating consensus on vital issues that impact the commercial real estate finance landscape.

CREFC emphasizes that the contributions of these leaders are vital for ensuring that all voices in the industry are represented. They contribute significantly to the ongoing innovation and evolution vital for the growth of the commercial real estate finance sector.

About CREFC

The CRE Finance Council is recognized as the primary trade association for the nearly $6 trillion commercial real estate finance industry. With a diverse membership of around 400 companies and 19,000 individuals, CREFC unites lenders, investors, servicers, and borrowers to promote transparency, efficiency, and legislative advocacy within the industry. For over 30 years, CREFC has played an essential role in shaping market standards and implementing educational initiatives that enhance the commercial real estate finance marketplace.