DENVER, Colo. – September 8, 2022 – Cushman & Wakefield, a leading global real estate services firm, and Greystone Servicing Company LLC, a leading national commercial real estate finance company, jointly announced that a veteran Equity, Debt and Structured Financing (EDSF) team led by Vice Chairman Craig Branton, M.S. has joined the firms in Denver, Colorado. Branton has an extensive background in commercial real estate lending and is responsible for debt originations exceeding $1 billion during his career.
Previously with CBRE, the three-member EDSF team also includes Chris Bourgeois, director and Brett Brown, financial analyst. Working in a dual capacity at both 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 $500 million in Greystone, acquiring a 40% 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,” said 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,” added 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,” said Chip Hudson, Executive Vice President and head of Greystone’s Agency lending platform.
Along with his vast experience in the multifamily sector, Branton’s 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, Branton was a Principal with Terrix Financial in Denver where he was also a consistent top producer.
Craig Branton said, “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.
About Greystone
Greystone is a private national commercial real estate finance company with an established reputation as a leader in multifamily and healthcare finance, having ranked as a top FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac lender in these sectors. Loans are offered through Greystone Servicing Company LLC, Greystone Funding Company LLC and/or other Greystone affiliates. For more information, visit www.greystone.com.