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FS Investments Names Global Head of Real Estate to Manage New Non-Traded REIT

(PRNewsfoto/FS Investments)

FS Investments, a leading alternative asset manager and sponsor of non-traded direct investment programs, has hired Rob Lawrence as managing director and global head of real estate to lead the firm’s real estate initiatives.

Lawrence will also help manage the company’s first non-traded real estate investment trust, FS Credit REIT, with sub-adviser Rialto Capital Management. He is based in New York and reports to FS president and chief investment officer Mike Kelly.

“With more than 25 years of investment experience in global commercial real estate, Rob Lawrence is an ideal fit to lead our efforts as we build out our real estate capabilities,” said Kelly.

Lawrence most recently served as executive managing director at real estate finance firm Singer & Bassuk. Prior to joining Singer & Bassuk, he was senior managing director and co-head of origination at Guggenheim Commercial Real Estate Finance, where he led and managed the origination platform for commercial mortgage-backed securities and affiliated life companies.

Lawrence previously held several high-level positions at JPMorgan Chase and Bear Stearns. At JPMorgan Chase, he served as managing director and head of the securitized products group in Asia. Prior to the merger with JPMorgan Chase in 2008, he was senior managing director and co-head of origination at Bear Stearns, and a founding member of the firm’s Global CMBS department.

Lawrence is a member of the Urban Land Institute, the Young Presidents’ Organization, and the Nassau County Disaster Action Team for the American Red Cross. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Vermont and a master’s degree in real estate investment and development from the Schack Institute of Real Estate at New York University.

As reported by The DI Wire, FS Credit Real Estate Income Trust closed on two floating-rate mortgage loans totaling $43.8 million in its first investments since being declared effective last week.

FS Investments, former Franklin Square Capital Partners, is headquartered in Philadelphia with offices in Orlando and Washington, DC. The firm had more than $20 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2017.

For more FS Investments news, visit their directory page here.