Rob Lester serves as Senior Vice President & Chief Investment Officer of Residential. In this role, he leads CARROLL’s investment, asset management, development, capital markets, and investor relations teams, while contributing to the development and execution of the Firm’s growth strategy across all investment strategies.

Relevant Experience – A capital markets and investment veteran, Rob brings more than two decades of investment banking and capital raising experience that includes developing, structuring, and financing innovative transactions and financial vehicles around the globe. Prior to joining CARROLL in 2022, Rob held executive and leadership positions within highly respected real estate and financial institutions, including Blackstone/Park Hill Real Estate, Macquarie Group and Brookfield – after beginning his career in corporate investment banking with BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank. At each, Rob has worked enthusiastically to foster client growth and value creation by efficiently accessing capital markets and stewarding mergers, acquisitions and dispositions. Through this, Rob is most gratified by the strong relationships earned and the close friends made.

Education/Affiliations – Rob is a graduate of Pepperdine University with an MBA in Finance and International Business and the University of California, Riverside where he earned a B.S. in Economics. He is a current member of the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA) and the Urban Land institute (ULI), as well as a past member of International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).

Interests – After 20 years in New York City, Rob returned to southern California where he resides with his brilliant wife Simone and their amazing and spirited son, West. Aside from family, Rob enjoys basketball, swimming and tennis and would prefer that all meals be served in a tortilla! He is also an active VC, PE, and property investor in his spare time.