Cushman & Wakefield and commercial real estate finance company Greystone Servicing Company LLC have recruited a team led by former CBRE Capital Markets Executive Vice President, Craig Branton, to their multifamily equity, debt and structured financing (EDSF) operation in Denver, Colorado.

Branton, who joins Cushman & wakefield as Vice Chairman, brings his extensive background in commercial real estate lending where he has been responsible for debt originations exceeding US $1 billion to the new role. In addition to extensive experience of the multifamily sector, his work in commercial real estate has included industrial, retail, office, self-storage, and parking properties. At CBRE, Branton was a top national producer in the field of lending, as well as one of the firm’s top overall producing professionals in the Americas. Prior to CBRE, he served as a Principal with Terrix Financial in Denver where he was also a consistent top producer.

The other members of the new EDSF team are Chris Bourgeois, who joins as a director and Brett Brown, a financial analyst.

Working jointly for Cushman & Wakefield and Greystone Servicing Company LLC, the team will specialize in multifamily loan originations, providing financing solutions for commercial real estate investors and owners. Branton and the team will also focus on helping to grow the joint venture.  

In December 2021, Cushman & Wakefield finalized its strategic investment of US $500 million in Greystone, acquiring a 40 per cent stake in Greystone’s Agency, FHA and Servicing businesses.

“We’re excited to welcome this high-performing team led by Craig, whose extensive financing experience and exceptional track record in the industry will enhance our robust EDSF and multifamily line of services. Cushman & Wakefield and Greystone’s strategic joint venture has created a best-in-class advisory services and capital solutions platform to fully support our client’s investment strategies,” says John O’Neill, President, U.S. Multifamily Capital Markets at Cushman & Wakefield. 

“It is a pleasure to welcome this premier EDSF team to our offices in Denver. They are greatly respected in our market and will add terrific depth to the range and level of lending services we offer our clients,” adds Steve Schwab, Managing Principal for Colorado and Utah at Cushman & Wakefield.

“This new team in Denver represents a key milestone in the growth of our joint effort with Cushman & Wakefield to provide a range of capital markets solutions to property investors, particularly in a core market where we can add value in the multifamily sector,” says Chip Hudson, Executive Vice President and head of Greystone’s Agency lending platform.

Branton comments: “Cushman & Wakefield offers a preeminent full-service platform and being part of this beneficial joint venture with Greystone will provide our clients with direct access to Greystone’s agency lending products and will also allow for equity and debt originations through life insurance companies, debt funds, regional and national banks and credit unions, and CMBS lenders.”

Branton holds a master’s degree in Real Estate and Construction Management from the University of Denver Daniels College of Business. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in Real Estate from Arizona State University.