John (“Jack”) A. Taylor
Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
John (“Jack”) A. Taylor is our President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board. Mr. Taylor has been a director and executive officer of the Company since its inception in 2017. Mr. Taylor served as Global Head of Commercial Real Estate of Pine River Capital Management L.P. (which externally managed our Company until December 31, 2020) from 2014 through 2020. Prior to joining Pine River, Mr. Taylor served as a Managing Director and Head of Global Real Estate Finance for Prudential Real Estate Investors (now known as PGIM Real Estate Company), a commercial real estate investor, from 2009 to November 2014, where he was also a member of the Global Management Committee and chaired the Global Investment Committee for debt and equity. From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Taylor was a partner at Five Mile Capital Partners LLC, an alternative investment and asset management company. Prior to Five Mile Capital Partners, he was co-head of real estate investment banking for the Americas and Europe at UBS Group AG, a Swiss multinational investment bank and financial services company. He previously led the Real Estate Group at PaineWebber & Co., an investment bank and stock brokerage firm, and served on the firm’s Operating Committee. He was head trader and manager of the CMBS and Principal Commercial Mortgage business for Kidder, Peabody & Co., Inc., a securities firm. Mr. Taylor was a founding governor and is currently a member of the Commercial Mortgage Securities Association (now the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council) and a member of the President’s Council of the Real Estate Roundtable. He is also Chairman of the Innocence Project. Mr. Taylor received a J.D. from Yale Law School, a MSc. in international relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Illinois.
Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
John (“Jack”) A. Taylor is our President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board. Mr. Taylor has been a director and executive officer of the Company since its inception in 2017. Mr. Taylor served as Global Head of Commercial Real Estate of Pine River Capital Management L.P. (which externally managed our Company until December 31, 2020) from 2014 through 2020. Prior to joining Pine River, Mr. Taylor served as a Managing Director and Head of Global Real Estate Finance for Prudential Real Estate Investors (now known as PGIM Real Estate Company), a commercial real estate investor, from 2009 to November 2014, where he was also a member of the Global Management Committee and chaired the Global Investment Committee for debt and equity. From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Taylor was a partner at Five Mile Capital Partners LLC, an alternative investment and asset management company. Prior to Five Mile Capital Partners, he was co-head of real estate investment banking for the Americas and Europe at UBS Group AG, a Swiss multinational investment bank and financial services company. He previously led the Real Estate Group at PaineWebber & Co., an investment bank and stock brokerage firm, and served on the firm’s Operating Committee. He was head trader and manager of the CMBS and Principal Commercial Mortgage business for Kidder, Peabody & Co., Inc., a securities firm. Mr. Taylor was a founding governor and is currently a member of the Commercial Mortgage Securities Association (now the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council) and a member of the President’s Council of the Real Estate Roundtable. He is also Chairman of the Innocence Project. Mr. Taylor received a J.D. from Yale Law School, a MSc. in international relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Illinois.
Marcin Urbaszek
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations
Marcin Urbaszek is our Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations and has served in those roles since the Company’s inception. He joined Pine River Capital Management L.P., our Former Manager, in May 2013 and, until the formation of the Company, served as a Managing Director of Two Harbors Investment Corp. (NYSE: TWO), a hybrid mortgage real estate investment trust, focusing on corporate development and capital markets activities. Prior to joining Pine River, Mr. Urbaszek worked at Credit Suisse Group AG, a Swiss multinational investment bank and financial services company, in the Investment Banking Division from 2006 to April 2013, most recently serving as a team lead and partner on coverage and strategic transaction execution for various financial institutions, including residential and commercial mortgage lenders. He has over 20 years of finance experience, including capital markets and equity research, with the last 15 years dedicated to financial institutions. Over the course of his career, Mr. Urbaszek has been primarily responsible for strategic and capital raising transaction execution, as well as financial planning and analysis. Mr. Urbaszek received a B.B.A. in Finance, with a Minor focused on Financial Accounting and Economics, from Zicklin School of Business, Bernard M. Baruch College, CUNY. Mr. Urbaszek is a CFA® charterholder.
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations
Marcin Urbaszek is our Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations and has served in those roles since the Company’s inception. He joined Pine River Capital Management L.P., our Former Manager, in May 2013 and, until the formation of the Company, served as a Managing Director of Two Harbors Investment Corp. (NYSE: TWO), a hybrid mortgage real estate investment trust, focusing on corporate development and capital markets activities. Prior to joining Pine River, Mr. Urbaszek worked at Credit Suisse Group AG, a Swiss multinational investment bank and financial services company, in the Investment Banking Division from 2006 to April 2013, most recently serving as a team lead and partner on coverage and strategic transaction execution for various financial institutions, including residential and commercial mortgage lenders. He has over 20 years of finance experience, including capital markets and equity research, with the last 15 years dedicated to financial institutions. Over the course of his career, Mr. Urbaszek has been primarily responsible for strategic and capital raising transaction execution, as well as financial planning and analysis. Mr. Urbaszek received a B.B.A. in Finance, with a Minor focused on Financial Accounting and Economics, from Zicklin School of Business, Bernard M. Baruch College, CUNY. Mr. Urbaszek is a CFA® charterholder.
Michael J. Karber
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Michael J. Karber is our Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. He has been with the Company since its inception, previously serving as our Deputy General Counsel from 2018 to 2019 and our Assistant Secretary from 2018 to 2020. Prior to joining the Company, he was Lead Counsel – Business Operations at Two Harbors Investment Corp. (NYSE: TWO), a hybrid mortgage real estate investment trust, beginning in 2014. Prior to joining Two Harbors, he was a Portfolio Manager at Presidium Asset Solutions, an asset management and loan servicing company, from 2010 to 2014, and from 2007 to 2009 he was an Associate at Holland & Knight (formerly known as Pircher, Nichols & Meeks LLP). Prior to that, Mr. Karber was an Associate at Schwartz Cooper Chartered (formerly known as Dykema Gossett PLLC). Mr. Karber received a J.D. from Northwestern University, Pritzker School of Law, and a B.A. in Political Science and Psychology from the University of Michigan.
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Michael J. Karber is our Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. He has been with the Company since its inception, previously serving as our Deputy General Counsel from 2018 to 2019 and our Assistant Secretary from 2018 to 2020. Prior to joining the Company, he was Lead Counsel – Business Operations at Two Harbors Investment Corp. (NYSE: TWO), a hybrid mortgage real estate investment trust, beginning in 2014. Prior to joining Two Harbors, he was a Portfolio Manager at Presidium Asset Solutions, an asset management and loan servicing company, from 2010 to 2014, and from 2007 to 2009 he was an Associate at Holland & Knight (formerly known as Pircher, Nichols & Meeks LLP). Prior to that, Mr. Karber was an Associate at Schwartz Cooper Chartered (formerly known as Dykema Gossett PLLC). Mr. Karber received a J.D. from Northwestern University, Pritzker School of Law, and a B.A. in Political Science and Psychology from the University of Michigan.
Peter Morral
Vice President, Chief Development Officer and Co-Head of Originations
Peter Morral is our Vice President and Chief Development Officer and has been with the Company since its inception. Mr. Morral is also our Co-Head of Originations and a member of our Investment Committee. From 2014 to 2020, he was a Managing Director at Pine River Capital Management L.P., our Former Manager. Prior to joining Pine River, Mr. Morral served as a Managing Director in Annaly Capital’s Commercial Real Estate Group. Prior to joining Annaly Capital, Mr. Morral was a Managing Director and member of the Investment Committee at UBS Securities, LLC where he was responsible for institutional client and large loan originations, investment banking coverage, subordinate debt pricing and distribution and loan syndications. Mr. Morral has worked in real estate finance and debt investing for over 20 years in a variety of functions, including on-balance sheet lending, syndications and investing, credit policy and underwriting, and CMBS loan originations, pricing, ratings and credit distribution. Mr. Morral received an M.B.A. from the Ohio State University and a B.L.A. in History from the University of Connecticut.
Vice President, Chief Development Officer and Co-Head of Originations
Peter Morral is our Vice President and Chief Development Officer and has been with the Company since its inception. Mr. Morral is also our Co-Head of Originations and a member of our Investment Committee. From 2014 to 2020, he was a Managing Director at Pine River Capital Management L.P., our Former Manager. Prior to joining Pine River, Mr. Morral served as a Managing Director in Annaly Capital’s Commercial Real Estate Group. Prior to joining Annaly Capital, Mr. Morral was a Managing Director and member of the Investment Committee at UBS Securities, LLC where he was responsible for institutional client and large loan originations, investment banking coverage, subordinate debt pricing and distribution and loan syndications. Mr. Morral has worked in real estate finance and debt investing for over 20 years in a variety of functions, including on-balance sheet lending, syndications and investing, credit policy and underwriting, and CMBS loan originations, pricing, ratings and credit distribution. Mr. Morral received an M.B.A. from the Ohio State University and a B.L.A. in History from the University of Connecticut.
Stephen Alpart
Vice President, Chief Investment Officer and Co-Head of Originations
Stephen Alpart is our Vice President and Chief Investment Officer and has served in that role since the Company’s inception. Mr. Alpart is also our Co-Head of Originations and a member of our Investment Committee. From 2014 to 2020, he was a Managing Director at Pine River Capital Management L.P., our Former Manager. Prior to joining Pine River, he was Managing Director in the Prudential Financial, Inc., an insurance, investment management and financial products company, Global Real Estate Finance Group, focused on the United States from 2009 to 2014. Previously, he was a Managing Director in the Real Estate Group at GMAC Commercial Mortgage and Capmark Investments where he focused on originating, underwriting and closing large structured commercial real estate loans for private equity firms and private owner/operators. Prior to that, he was a Managing Director in the Real Estate Group at PaineWebber & Co., an investment bank and stock brokerage firm, and later an Executive Director in the Real Estate Group of UBS Group AG, a Swiss multinational investment bank and financial services company, where he focused on originating, underwriting and closing large structured commercial real estate loans for private equity firms and owner/operators. He has worked in real estate finance and debt investing for over 25 years in a variety of functions, including third-party funds management, proprietary on-book lending, transaction advisory business, loan syndications, loan sales and workouts/restructurings. Mr. Alpart received a Masters in Business Administration, Finance and Real Estate from New York University and a B.S. in Business Administration, Accounting and Economics from Washington University.
Vice President, Chief Investment Officer and Co-Head of Originations
Stephen Alpart is our Vice President and Chief Investment Officer and has served in that role since the Company’s inception. Mr. Alpart is also our Co-Head of Originations and a member of our Investment Committee. From 2014 to 2020, he was a Managing Director at Pine River Capital Management L.P., our Former Manager. Prior to joining Pine River, he was Managing Director in the Prudential Financial, Inc., an insurance, investment management and financial products company, Global Real Estate Finance Group, focused on the United States from 2009 to 2014. Previously, he was a Managing Director in the Real Estate Group at GMAC Commercial Mortgage and Capmark Investments where he focused on originating, underwriting and closing large structured commercial real estate loans for private equity firms and private owner/operators. Prior to that, he was a Managing Director in the Real Estate Group at PaineWebber & Co., an investment bank and stock brokerage firm, and later an Executive Director in the Real Estate Group of UBS Group AG, a Swiss multinational investment bank and financial services company, where he focused on originating, underwriting and closing large structured commercial real estate loans for private equity firms and owner/operators. He has worked in real estate finance and debt investing for over 25 years in a variety of functions, including third-party funds management, proprietary on-book lending, transaction advisory business, loan syndications, loan sales and workouts/restructurings. Mr. Alpart received a Masters in Business Administration, Finance and Real Estate from New York University and a B.S. in Business Administration, Accounting and Economics from Washington University.
Steven Plust
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Steven Plust is our Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and has served in that role since the Company’s inception. Mr. Plust is also a member of our Investment Committee. From 2014 to 2020, he was a Managing Director at Pine River Capital Management L.P., our Former Manager. Prior to joining Pine River, Mr. Plust was a Managing Director in the Prudential Financial, Inc., an insurance, investment management and financial products company, Global Real Estate Finance Group from 2009 to 2014. He has over 25 years of experience in real estate finance and capital markets, and was an advisor to the Resolution Trust Corporation in the development and implementation of its securitization programs. Mr. Plust has worked for over 20 years in principal investing platforms on Wall Street and in investment management, where he has been primarily responsible for transaction pricing and structuring, credit risk assessment and analysis of complex transactions and multi-asset portfolios. He received an M.B.A. from Columbia University and a B.S. in Chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Steven Plust is our Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and has served in that role since the Company’s inception. Mr. Plust is also a member of our Investment Committee. From 2014 to 2020, he was a Managing Director at Pine River Capital Management L.P., our Former Manager. Prior to joining Pine River, Mr. Plust was a Managing Director in the Prudential Financial, Inc., an insurance, investment management and financial products company, Global Real Estate Finance Group from 2009 to 2014. He has over 25 years of experience in real estate finance and capital markets, and was an advisor to the Resolution Trust Corporation in the development and implementation of its securitization programs. Mr. Plust has worked for over 20 years in principal investing platforms on Wall Street and in investment management, where he has been primarily responsible for transaction pricing and structuring, credit risk assessment and analysis of complex transactions and multi-asset portfolios. He received an M.B.A. from Columbia University and a B.S. in Chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.