Christopher Kelly

Christopher Kelly is a Managing Director at The Ardent Companies, a real estate asset management and investment platform.1 He joined the firm in January 2020, bringing with him extensive experience in commercial real estate credit and institutional asset management.24

Professional Background

Kelly has 32 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry.2 Prior to joining The Ardent Companies, he held several notable positions:

1. Managing Director and Head of CRE Lending at Amherst Capital Management (2015-2020)4
2. Managing Director and Head of Real Estate at CapitalSource, a division of Pacific Western Bank (12-year tenure)3
3. Managing Director and founding member at Natixis (formerly CDC Mortgage Capital)3
4. Worked at Lehman Brothers, originating interim and permanent debt for the Fixed Income Group3
5. Spent over eight years in the real estate division of Heller Financial in Chicago and New York3

Responsibilities and Achievements

At The Ardent Companies, Kelly's role includes:

• Accelerating the development and strategic growth of Ardent's debt strategies1
• Introducing a complementary value-add bridge debt product to the platform1
• Supporting the expansion of Ardent's existing transitional credit funds and direct equity investment businesses1
• Extending the reach of the firm's national borrower-sponsor relationships1

Throughout his career, Kelly has had direct responsibility for more than $12 billion in originations.2

Education and Affiliations

Christopher Kelly is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.3 He is actively involved in various real estate organizations, including:

• CREFC
• Urban Land Institute (ULI)
• Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)
• International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
• Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association (WREAA)
• Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center

Kelly is also a former board member for the Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association.3

Industry Involvement

Kelly is recognized as a thought leader in the real estate industry. He frequently speaks at industry conferences and events, including AmeriCatalyst, Bank of New York Investor Conference, CBRE Institutional Investors, and various academic institutions such as New York University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.4