NEW YORK— The CRE Finance Council (CREFC) announced Thursday that its President and Chief Executive Officer, Lisa Pendergast, plans to retire on or around August 3, 2026, concluding a 10-year tenure marked by significant growth and industry influence.
In a statement, Leland F. Bunch III, Managing Director at Bank of America and Chair of CREFC’s Executive Committee and Board of Governors, credited Pendergast with elevating the organization’s role across the commercial real estate finance sector.
“Under Lisa’s exceptional leadership, CREFC has strengthened its role as the industry’s central forum for dialogue, advocacy, and market intelligence,” Bunch said. He added that the Board has initiated a comprehensive search process to identify a successor and ensure a smooth leadership transition.
Pendergast’s tenure saw CREFC expand its membership by more than 30 percent, reinforcing its position as a leading voice for stakeholders across the commercial and multifamily real estate finance ecosystem. The organization represents a wide range of participants, including lenders, investors, issuers, and servicers.
During her leadership, Pendergast emphasized market transparency and industry standards, while growing CREFC’s research, education, and engagement initiatives. She also strengthened the group’s reputation as a nonpartisan resource for policymakers and regulators, particularly in Washington, D.C.
With more than three decades of experience in commercial real estate capital markets, Pendergast brought deep industry expertise to the role. Before joining CREFC, she held senior positions at Jefferies, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Prudential Securities, and was widely recognized as a top research analyst. She also previously served as CREFC’s Chair from 2010 to 2011 and spent more than nine years on its Board of Governors.
“Leading CREFC has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” Pendergast said in a statement. “I am incredibly proud of what we have built together — a strong, collaborative organization that serves as the voice of the commercial real estate finance industry both in the markets and in Washington, D.C.”
Pendergast said she remains committed to supporting the organization through the transition period as the search for her successor moves forward.
