Senthil Sankaran

Senthil Sankaran is the Managing Principal of the Amazon Housing Equity Fund at Amazon. Here are some key details about his role and background:

Professional Role

Senthil Sankaran is responsible for overseeing, deploying, and managing Amazon's commitment of over $2 billion in below-market capital through the Amazon Housing Equity Fund.1 This fund aims to preserve and create affordable homes in Amazon's 'hometown' communities, including the greater Washington D.C. region, Seattle, and Nashville.3

Responsibilities and Achievements

• He leads the fund's efforts to support the creation and preservation of multigenerational affordable housing for moderate- and low-income families.2
• Under his leadership, the fund has committed $2.2 billion to date, exceeding its initial goal of $2 billion or 20,000 units, reaching over 21,000 units.2
• Sankaran focuses on providing low-rate capital to accelerate the construction or preservation of affordable housing projects.2
• He works with public, private, for-profit, and nonprofit development owners to support affordable housing initiatives.2

Background

Prior to joining Amazon, Senthil Sankaran has held various leadership roles in real estate development in both the private and public sectors, including:

• SVP of Real Estate Development & Capital Programs at the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA)
• Senior Director of Development at EDENS
• Director of Real Estate Development for the Government of the District of Columbia in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development (DMPED)1

Personal

Senthil Sankaran is a long-term resident of Washington D.C. and lives in the Bloomingdale neighborhood with his wife and two young daughters.1

Vision and Approach

Sankaran emphasizes the importance of speed and flexibility in the fund's approach to affordable housing. He views the fund as an accelerant for housing projects and focuses on addressing gaps in the housing market.4 He also highlights the fund's commitment to supporting diverse-led developers through programs like the Amazon Housing Equity Accelerator.3