#USA #New York #CRE Finance Council #Toby Cobb #3650 Capital

CREFC Announces Toby Cobb as New Chair of Executive Committee

The CRE Finance Council, a pivotal player in the commercial real estate finance landscape, has announced the appointment of Toby Cobb as the Chair of its Executive Committee and Board of Governors for the 2026-2027 term. This announcement was made during the Council's annual conference held in New York City, reflecting the organization's commitment to strong leadership within the sector.

A Rich Background in Commercial Real Estate

Toby Cobb is no stranger to the commercial real estate scene, bringing over three decades of experience to his new role. As the Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner of 3650 Capital, Cobb has a comprehensive understanding of loan origination, capital markets, and financing activities. His leadership will guide the Council as it addresses the ever-evolving challenges in the commercial real estate finance sector.

Having held various senior leadership positions, including Co-CEO at LNR Property and Co-Head of US Real Estate at Deutsche Bank, Cobb has played an instrumental role in shaping the commercial real estate lending and securitization markets. His previous accolades include receiving the Founders Award from CREFC in June 2025, highlighting his influence and contributions to the industry.

Vision for the Future

Expressing his vision for his term, Cobb stated: "CREFC has historically been essential in uniting the diverse stakeholders in our commercial real estate finance markets. As we face shifting market dynamics, our commitment to advocacy, education, and industry engagement is more crucial than ever. I am honored to take on the role of Chair and am eager to work collaboratively with our members and the CREFC team to advance our priorities for a robust and resilient market."

Lisa Pendergast, President and CEO of CREFC, echoed Cobb's sentiments, congratulating him on his selection and praising his extensive background in the financing and investment realms. She also extended a heartfelt thank you to Leland Bunch for his leadership contributions during his tenure as Chair.

CREFC's New Executive Committee Members

In addition to Cobb’s new leadership, CREFC announced several other key appointments to its Executive Committee for the upcoming term:

• - Chair-Elect: Lissette Rivera-Pauley from Regions Financial Corp.
• - Immediate Past Chair: Leland F. Bunch III from Bank of America
• - Vice Chair: Shannon Erdmann from Apollo Global Management
• - Secretary: Nitin Bhasin from KBRA
• - Treasurer: Adam Behlman from Starwood Property Trust
• - Long Range Planning & Investment Committee Chair: Dan Olsen from KeyBank Real Estate Capital
• - Membership Chair: Jeehae Lee from Bridge Investment Group
• - Policy Committee Chair: Rick Jones from Jackstay Ventures, LLC
• - Program Committee Chair: MJ Potthoff from Morningstar DBRS

Introducing New Board of Governors Members

CREFC also introduced new members to its Board of Governors, enhancing the Council's governance structure with prominent professionals from various sectors. The new members include:

• - Keith Banzhal (Moody's)
• - Brian Carey (J.P. Morgan)
• - Nishant Nadella (Derby Lane Partners)
• - Meena Pursnani (MetLife)
• - Laura Swihart (Dechert)
• - Kelly Wrenn (Ballard Spahr) - PAC Co-Chair

Pendergast remarked on the invaluable expertise and dedication these professionals bring, emphasizing that CREFC's strength is rooted in the commitments of its volunteer leaders to advance the commercial real estate finance sector.

About CREFC

The CRE Finance Council serves as the primary trade association for the over $6 trillion commercial real estate finance industry, comprised of more than 400 member firms and approximately 19,000 individuals. The organization has spent over 30 years advocating for liquidity, transparency, and efficiency in the commercial real estate finance markets, setting pivotal market standards and practices while providing crucial education for stakeholders. For more information about CREFC, check their website at crefc.org.