Newmark has appointed debt and structured finance expert Akbar Tajani as a managing director.
Tajani has 20 years of experience investing in real estate private credit and private equity, capital markets and portfolio management.
He joins Newmark from Barings, where he served as a managing director in the portfolio management team, overseeing real estate investment activities across private credit, private equity and securitised investments.
Prior to Barings, he held senior investing, fund management and capital markets roles at BlackRock, Cantor Fitzgerald and Pine River Capital Management in New York.
In his new role, he will be based in London and will collaborate with leaders of Newmark’s debt, equity and structured finance business in the UK and Europe, including Matthew Featherstone and Charlie Foster.
Michael Lehrman, president, UK and Europe at Newmark, said: “Expanding our debt and structured finance capabilities in Europe remains a key priority as we continue to build our integrated, client-focused capital markets business. Newmark’s ability to combine local market expertise with cross-border execution and connectivity across the capital stack differentiates our platform. I’m excited to add a talent like Akbar, alongside whom I’ve worked alongside for two decades.”
Featherstone added: “Akbar brings a strong track record across both principal investing and advisory, which is increasingly important as clients navigate a more complex and global capital environment. His ability to connect capital sources with opportunity across markets will be a valuable addition to our growing European business.”
Tajani said: “Real estate investment organisations today are operating in a capital environment that is increasingly global, solutions-oriented, and selective. Newmark’s unique global franchise, integrated capital markets approach, and best-in-class execution provide a compelling platform to our European and international clients to partner with.”
