Global private investment firm Starwood Capital Group has announced that Jonathan Pollack will join the firm beginning in 2025 as its president.
Pollack joins Starwood Capital from Blackstone, where he served as global head of the firm's real estate credit business (BREDS) since 2016.
BREDS, which has $84 bn (€78 bn) in assets under management, is a lender and investor in commercial real estate loans, residential mortgages and a range of securities, including CMBS, RMBS and real estate corporate debt.
In December 2023, BREDS acquired the $17 bn portfolio of Signature Bank commercial mortgages auctioned by the FDIC.
Pollack was also a member of Blackstone's real estate executive committee and investment committee, as well as Blackstone's operating committee.
'After an extensive search, I am extremely pleased to welcome an executive of Jonathan's caliber as president of Starwood Capital,' said Barry Sternlicht, chairman and CEO of Starwood Capital.
'I have known Jonathan for more than a decade, and he is universally respected across our industry with unparalleled relationships and a track record of success, which will help lead a firm of our scale and ambition.
'Jonathan's background is global, and he will join all of Starwood's committees, including its Executive, Investment, Disposition and Operating Committees, which he is expected to lead.
'He is a proven manager, and shares my vision that talent thrives in a fun and rewarding workplace. We will continue to strive to make Starwood the best place to work in the industry, and I could not be more excited to start this next leg of our journey with him as part of our already accomplished leadership team,' Sternlicht concluded.
Prior to joining Blackstone in 2015, Pollack was the global head of commercial real estate at Deutsche Bank, and was credited with establishing DB as the top CMBS issuer and a leading special situations investor following the global financial crisis in 2008.
Pollack also spent eight years in Deutsche Bank's London headquarters, helping to build the European commercial real estate business as the head of capital markets.
Pollack is a member of the board of trustees of East Harlem Tutorial Program, a leading charter school and after school programme in New York City.
Jeffrey G. Dishner, president and chief operating officer of Starwood Capital, will remain in his role as President until Pollack joins the firm, at which time he will assume the role of vice chairman and head of strategy and business development.
