Our Company

2023 Annual Report

Read More

Investment Overview

Latest Earnings Supplement

Read More

For Investors

Latest Investor Presentation

Read More

Search

Our Company Investment Committee

Investment Committee

Executive Officers

Picture of Ralph Rosenberg

Ralph Rosenberg

Chairman of KREF Board; Partner and Global Head of Real Estate

expand

Ralph Rosenberg

Ralph F. Rosenberg has served as a director since October 2014 and is the Chairman of our Board of Directors. Mr. Rosenberg is also a member of our Manager’s investment committee. Mr. Rosenberg joined KKR in 2011 and is a Partner and the Global Head of KKR’s Real Estate Platform. Mr. Rosenberg is Chairman of the Board of Directors of KKR Real Estate Select Trust and a member of the Board of Directors of KKR Realty Japan Management. Prior to joining KKR, he was a partner at Eton Park Capital Management and managed his own firm, R6 Capital Management, which later merged into Eton Park. Previously, Mr. Rosenberg was a partner at Goldman Sachs. Mr. Rosenberg is a member of the Board of AFIRE, a Governor of the Urban Land Institute Foundation, and serves on the Brown University Investment Committee and the Investment Committee of the Urban Land Institute. He is a former Global and US Trustee of the Urban Land Institute, a former Chair of the Board of Directors of the Pension Real Estate Association (“PREA”) and a former member of the Board of Directors of the PREA Foundation. He is an Emeriti Member of the Brown University Corporation and is an Honorary Trustee of the Francis W. Parker School in Chicago, Illinois. He is also a former trustee of the Stanford Graduate School of Business Trust and a former trustee and former vice-chair of the Board of Directors of the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Mr. Rosenberg holds an undergraduate degree from Brown University, where he graduated magna cum laude, and holds an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Picture of Chris Lee

Chris Lee

Vice Chairman Of KREF Board, Partner And President Of KKR Real Estate

expand

Chris Lee

Christen E.J. Lee has served as a director since April 2020 and is the Vice Chairman of our Board of Directors. Mr. Lee is also a member of our Manager’s investment committee. He previously served as Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President of our Company from October 2015 through March 2020. He also served as Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President of our Manager from March 2016 through January 2021. Mr. Lee joined KKR in 2012 and is a Partner and President of KKR’s global real estate business. Mr. Lee serves as Portfolio Manager for KKR Property Partners Americas. Mr. Lee sits on KKR’s Operating Committee, KKR’s Real Estate Equity and Credit Investment Committees in the Americas, KKR’s Real Estate Equity and Credit Portfolio Management Committees in the Americas, KKR’s ESG Committee, KKR’s Global Inclusion and Diversity Council, co-chairs KKR’s Americas Inclusion and Diversity Council and chairs KKR’s Real Estate Valuation Committee. Previously, he served as Head of Real Estate in the Americas, overseeing both equity and credit investing platforms in the region. Prior to joining KKR, he spent three years at Apollo Global Management on their global real estate team where he focused on real estate acquisitions. Mr. Lee also worked at Goldman Sachs in the merchant banking division’s real estate principal investment area (REPIA) for over five years after spending two years in the investment banking division. He earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Emory University. Mr. Lee currently serves as a trustee of St. Mark’s School of Texas in Dallas, Texas, as a member of the Board of Directors of Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) in New York, New York, as a member of the Board of Directors of the PREA Foundation in Hartford, Connecticut, as a trustee of Collegiate School in New York, New York and as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for Emory College of Arts and Sciences in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a member of the CRE Finance Council, Pension Real Estate Association, Real Estate Capital Policy Advisory Committee for the Real Estate Roundtable, Real Estate Executive Council, Manhattan Chapter of YPO and Urban Land Institute where he sits on one of its Urban Development and Mixed-Use Councils.

Picture of Matt Salem

Matt Salem

Chief Executive Officer of KREF, Director of KREF Board, Partner and Head of KKR Real Estate Credit

expand

Matt Salem

Matthew A. Salem has served as a director since February 2022 and as Chief Executive Officer of our Company since March 2020. Mr. Salem has also served as the Chief Executive Officer of our Manager since January 2021 and is a member of its investment committee. Mr. Salem previously served as Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President of our Company from October 2015 through March 2020, and of our Manager from March 2016 through January 2021. Mr. Salem joined KKR in 2015 and is a Partner and Head of Real Estate Credit and Vice Chairman of KKR Real Estate Select Trust Inc. (KREST). Mr. Salem sits on KKR’s Real Estate Investment Committees. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Salem was a managing director at Rialto Capital Management. Before joining Rialto in 2012, he was a managing director and head of CMBS trading at Goldman Sachs. Before joining Goldman Sachs in 2006, Mr. Salem held positions at Morgan Stanley and Citigroup Alternative Investments where he invested in mezzanine debt and other high yield CRE credit on behalf of the Travelers Insurance Companies. He began his career in 1996 at Midland Loan Services in Kansas City. Mr. Salem has a B.A. in Economics from Bates College. He has served on the Board of Governors of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council and as Chair of the B-Piece Buyer Forum.

Picture of Patrick Mattson

Patrick Mattson

President and Chief Operating Officer of KREF, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of KKR Real Estate Credit

expand

Patrick Mattson

W. Patrick Mattson has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of our Company since March 2020. Mr. Mattson has also served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of our Manager since January 2021, and is a member of its investment committee. Mr. Mattson previously served as Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of our Company from October 2015 through March 2020, and of our Manager from March 2016 through January 2021. Mr. Mattson joined KKR in 2015 and is a Managing Director and the Chief Operating Officer of the Real Estate Credit group. He is a member of the Real Estate Credit Investment Committee and Portfolio Management Committee. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Mattson was a managing director at Rialto Capital Management and led the mezzanine debt platform. Prior to Rialto, he was at Morgan Stanley for nine years and held various positions within the commercial real estate groups, most recently on the securitized products trading desk. Prior to Morgan Stanley, he was at Deloitte & Touche focused on the firm’s CMBS practice. Mr. Mattson received a B.A. from the University of Virginia and is a CFA charterholder. He is a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Commercial/Multifamily Board of Governors.

Picture of Jennifer Box

Jennifer Box

Partner and Co-Head of Strategic Investments Group

expand

Jennifer Box

Jenny Box (New York) joined KKR in 2019 and is a Partner of KKR. Ms. Box is Co-Head of KKR’s Strategic Investments Group, a portfolio manager for KKR’s Strategic Investments Group funds and a member of the Strategic Investments Group Investment Committee. She sits on the Real Estate Investment Committees across both equities and credit. Prior to joining KKR, Ms. Box spent over 10 years at Oaktree Capital Management where she was the co-portfolio manager of the Oaktree Value Opportunities Fund and led distressed investments on behalf of the Oaktree Distressed Opportunities Funds. Prior to Oaktree, she was an investment analyst in the Blackstone Group’s distressed debt fund / GSO capital fund and was an associate consultant at the Boston Consulting Group. Ms. Box graduated summa cum laude from Duke University and is a CFA Charterholder.

Picture of Roger Morales

Roger Morales

Partner and Head of Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions

expand

Roger Morales

Roger Morales (New York) joined KKR in 2011 as part of the founding team that formed KKR’s Real Estate Platform. He is the Head of Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions and is jointly responsible for all aspects of the business including acquisitions, portfolio management and fundraising. He sits on KKR’s Real Estate Equity Investment Committee, Credit Investment Committee and Portfolio Management Committee in the Americas. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Morales worked with Eton Park Capital Management and with Vornado Realty Trust where he focused on real estate and real estate related investment opportunities. Before attending business school, he worked with JP Morgan Partners where he focused on middle market corporate private equity, and with Goldman, Sachs & Co.'s leveraged finance group. He received a B.A. from the University of Miami and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Mr. Morales is a member of the Urban Land Institute and is a member of one of its Industrial and Office Park Development Councils. He is also a member of the University of Miami Real Estate Advisory Board. Mr. Morales is an alumni and a former board member of Sponsors for Educational Opportunities (SEO).

Picture of Justin Pattner

Justin Pattner

Partner and Head of Real Estate Equity Americas

expand

Justin Pattner

Justin Pattner (San Francisco) joined KKR in 2011 to help found the Global Real Estate business. He is a Partner of the firm and is responsible for KKR’s Real Estate Private Equity business in the Americas, overseeing all aspects of the business including investment strategy, asset management and fundraising. Mr. Pattner sits on KKR's Real Estate Equity and Credit Investment Committees in the Americas and on KKR’s Real Estate Equity and Credit Portfolio Management Committees in the Americas. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Pattner was at Eton Park Capital Management where he focused on real estate and real estate related opportunities. Prior to Eton Park, he worked at Lehman Brothers in the real estate private equity group (LBREP) as well as at Lubert Adler Partners. Mr. Pattner graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania where he received a B.A. in Economics. Mr. Pattner sits on the Americas Executive Committee of ULI and is member of the Executive Committee for the Fisher Center Policy Advisory Board.

Picture of Joel Traut

Joel Traut

PARTNER AND HEAD OF ORIGINATIONS FOR KKR REAL ESTATE CREDIT

expand

Joel Traut

Joel Traut (New York) joined KKR in 2015 and is a member of the Real Estate team. He serves as Head of Originations for KKR Real Estate Credit and is responsible for business development, the origination process and team coordination across the real estate direct lending business. In addition, he is involved in sourcing, underwriting, negotiating and structuring debt investments across all credit products, asset types and geographies. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Traut spent thirteen years at GE Capital, most recently as a region manager at GE Capital Real Estate, where he led their northeast commercial team. He focused on investing in real estate credit strategies including first mortgage and mezzanine loans. He joined GE in 2002 as part of GE Capital's financial management program and during his tenure worked across multiple GE Capital business segments including: commercial real estate, aviation services, and commercial finance corporate. Mr. Traut graduated summa cum laude from the University of Kentucky and holds a B.B.A. in Finance and Marketing. Mr. Traut serves on the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics’ Finance Advisory Board. Mr. Traut is currently a member of the Urban Land Institute, Commercial Real Estate Finance Council, and National Association of Industrial and Office Properties ('NAIOP') where he sits on its Capital Markets Council.

Executive Officers

Picture of Ralph Rosenberg

Ralph Rosenberg

Chairman of KREF Board; Partner and Global Head of Real Estate

expand

Ralph Rosenberg

Ralph F. Rosenberg has served as a director since October 2014 and is the Chairman of our Board of Directors. Mr. Rosenberg is also a member of our Manager’s investment committee. Mr. Rosenberg joined KKR in 2011 and is a Partner and the Global Head of KKR’s Real Estate Platform. Mr. Rosenberg is Chairman of the Board of Directors of KKR Real Estate Select Trust and a member of the Board of Directors of KKR Realty Japan Management. Prior to joining KKR, he was a partner at Eton Park Capital Management and managed his own firm, R6 Capital Management, which later merged into Eton Park. Previously, Mr. Rosenberg was a partner at Goldman Sachs. Mr. Rosenberg is a member of the Board of AFIRE, a Governor of the Urban Land Institute Foundation, and serves on the Brown University Investment Committee and the Investment Committee of the Urban Land Institute. He is a former Global and US Trustee of the Urban Land Institute, a former Chair of the Board of Directors of the Pension Real Estate Association (“PREA”) and a former member of the Board of Directors of the PREA Foundation. He is an Emeriti Member of the Brown University Corporation and is an Honorary Trustee of the Francis W. Parker School in Chicago, Illinois. He is also a former trustee of the Stanford Graduate School of Business Trust and a former trustee and former vice-chair of the Board of Directors of the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Mr. Rosenberg holds an undergraduate degree from Brown University, where he graduated magna cum laude, and holds an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Picture of Chris Lee

Chris Lee

Vice Chairman Of KREF Board, Partner And President Of KKR Real Estate

expand

Chris Lee

Christen E.J. Lee has served as a director since April 2020 and is the Vice Chairman of our Board of Directors. Mr. Lee is also a member of our Manager’s investment committee. He previously served as Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President of our Company from October 2015 through March 2020. He also served as Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President of our Manager from March 2016 through January 2021. Mr. Lee joined KKR in 2012 and is a Partner and President of KKR’s global real estate business. Mr. Lee serves as Portfolio Manager for KKR Property Partners Americas. Mr. Lee sits on KKR’s Operating Committee, KKR’s Real Estate Equity and Credit Investment Committees in the Americas, KKR’s Real Estate Equity and Credit Portfolio Management Committees in the Americas, KKR’s ESG Committee, KKR’s Global Inclusion and Diversity Council, co-chairs KKR’s Americas Inclusion and Diversity Council and chairs KKR’s Real Estate Valuation Committee. Previously, he served as Head of Real Estate in the Americas, overseeing both equity and credit investing platforms in the region. Prior to joining KKR, he spent three years at Apollo Global Management on their global real estate team where he focused on real estate acquisitions. Mr. Lee also worked at Goldman Sachs in the merchant banking division’s real estate principal investment area (REPIA) for over five years after spending two years in the investment banking division. He earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Emory University. Mr. Lee currently serves as a trustee of St. Mark’s School of Texas in Dallas, Texas, as a member of the Board of Directors of Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) in New York, New York, as a member of the Board of Directors of the PREA Foundation in Hartford, Connecticut, as a trustee of Collegiate School in New York, New York and as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for Emory College of Arts and Sciences in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a member of the CRE Finance Council, Pension Real Estate Association, Real Estate Capital Policy Advisory Committee for the Real Estate Roundtable, Real Estate Executive Council, Manhattan Chapter of YPO and Urban Land Institute where he sits on one of its Urban Development and Mixed-Use Councils.

Picture of Matt Salem

Matt Salem

Chief Executive Officer of KREF, Director of KREF Board, Partner and Head of KKR Real Estate Credit

expand

Matt Salem

Matthew A. Salem has served as a director since February 2022 and as Chief Executive Officer of our Company since March 2020. Mr. Salem has also served as the Chief Executive Officer of our Manager since January 2021 and is a member of its investment committee. Mr. Salem previously served as Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President of our Company from October 2015 through March 2020, and of our Manager from March 2016 through January 2021. Mr. Salem joined KKR in 2015 and is a Partner and Head of Real Estate Credit and Vice Chairman of KKR Real Estate Select Trust Inc. (KREST). Mr. Salem sits on KKR’s Real Estate Investment Committees. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Salem was a managing director at Rialto Capital Management. Before joining Rialto in 2012, he was a managing director and head of CMBS trading at Goldman Sachs. Before joining Goldman Sachs in 2006, Mr. Salem held positions at Morgan Stanley and Citigroup Alternative Investments where he invested in mezzanine debt and other high yield CRE credit on behalf of the Travelers Insurance Companies. He began his career in 1996 at Midland Loan Services in Kansas City. Mr. Salem has a B.A. in Economics from Bates College. He has served on the Board of Governors of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council and as Chair of the B-Piece Buyer Forum.

Picture of Patrick Mattson

Patrick Mattson

President and Chief Operating Officer of KREF, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of KKR Real Estate Credit

expand

Patrick Mattson

W. Patrick Mattson has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of our Company since March 2020. Mr. Mattson has also served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of our Manager since January 2021, and is a member of its investment committee. Mr. Mattson previously served as Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of our Company from October 2015 through March 2020, and of our Manager from March 2016 through January 2021. Mr. Mattson joined KKR in 2015 and is a Managing Director and the Chief Operating Officer of the Real Estate Credit group. He is a member of the Real Estate Credit Investment Committee and Portfolio Management Committee. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Mattson was a managing director at Rialto Capital Management and led the mezzanine debt platform. Prior to Rialto, he was at Morgan Stanley for nine years and held various positions within the commercial real estate groups, most recently on the securitized products trading desk. Prior to Morgan Stanley, he was at Deloitte & Touche focused on the firm’s CMBS practice. Mr. Mattson received a B.A. from the University of Virginia and is a CFA charterholder. He is a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Commercial/Multifamily Board of Governors.

Picture of Jennifer Box

Jennifer Box

Partner and Co-Head of Strategic Investments Group

expand

Jennifer Box

Jenny Box (New York) joined KKR in 2019 and is a Partner of KKR. Ms. Box is Co-Head of KKR’s Strategic Investments Group, a portfolio manager for KKR’s Strategic Investments Group funds and a member of the Strategic Investments Group Investment Committee. She sits on the Real Estate Investment Committees across both equities and credit. Prior to joining KKR, Ms. Box spent over 10 years at Oaktree Capital Management where she was the co-portfolio manager of the Oaktree Value Opportunities Fund and led distressed investments on behalf of the Oaktree Distressed Opportunities Funds. Prior to Oaktree, she was an investment analyst in the Blackstone Group’s distressed debt fund / GSO capital fund and was an associate consultant at the Boston Consulting Group. Ms. Box graduated summa cum laude from Duke University and is a CFA Charterholder.

Picture of Roger Morales

Roger Morales

Partner and Head of Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions

expand

Roger Morales

Roger Morales (New York) joined KKR in 2011 as part of the founding team that formed KKR’s Real Estate Platform. He is the Head of Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions and is jointly responsible for all aspects of the business including acquisitions, portfolio management and fundraising. He sits on KKR’s Real Estate Equity Investment Committee, Credit Investment Committee and Portfolio Management Committee in the Americas. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Morales worked with Eton Park Capital Management and with Vornado Realty Trust where he focused on real estate and real estate related investment opportunities. Before attending business school, he worked with JP Morgan Partners where he focused on middle market corporate private equity, and with Goldman, Sachs & Co.'s leveraged finance group. He received a B.A. from the University of Miami and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Mr. Morales is a member of the Urban Land Institute and is a member of one of its Industrial and Office Park Development Councils. He is also a member of the University of Miami Real Estate Advisory Board. Mr. Morales is an alumni and a former board member of Sponsors for Educational Opportunities (SEO).

Picture of Justin Pattner

Justin Pattner

Partner and Head of Real Estate Equity Americas

expand

Justin Pattner

Justin Pattner (San Francisco) joined KKR in 2011 to help found the Global Real Estate business. He is a Partner of the firm and is responsible for KKR’s Real Estate Private Equity business in the Americas, overseeing all aspects of the business including investment strategy, asset management and fundraising. Mr. Pattner sits on KKR's Real Estate Equity and Credit Investment Committees in the Americas and on KKR’s Real Estate Equity and Credit Portfolio Management Committees in the Americas. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Pattner was at Eton Park Capital Management where he focused on real estate and real estate related opportunities. Prior to Eton Park, he worked at Lehman Brothers in the real estate private equity group (LBREP) as well as at Lubert Adler Partners. Mr. Pattner graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania where he received a B.A. in Economics. Mr. Pattner sits on the Americas Executive Committee of ULI and is member of the Executive Committee for the Fisher Center Policy Advisory Board.

Picture of Joel Traut

Joel Traut

PARTNER AND HEAD OF ORIGINATIONS FOR KKR REAL ESTATE CREDIT

expand

Joel Traut

Joel Traut (New York) joined KKR in 2015 and is a member of the Real Estate team. He serves as Head of Originations for KKR Real Estate Credit and is responsible for business development, the origination process and team coordination across the real estate direct lending business. In addition, he is involved in sourcing, underwriting, negotiating and structuring debt investments across all credit products, asset types and geographies. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Traut spent thirteen years at GE Capital, most recently as a region manager at GE Capital Real Estate, where he led their northeast commercial team. He focused on investing in real estate credit strategies including first mortgage and mezzanine loans. He joined GE in 2002 as part of GE Capital's financial management program and during his tenure worked across multiple GE Capital business segments including: commercial real estate, aviation services, and commercial finance corporate. Mr. Traut graduated summa cum laude from the University of Kentucky and holds a B.B.A. in Finance and Marketing. Mr. Traut serves on the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics’ Finance Advisory Board. Mr. Traut is currently a member of the Urban Land Institute, Commercial Real Estate Finance Council, and National Association of Industrial and Office Properties ('NAIOP') where he sits on its Capital Markets Council.

Privacy Notice (Non-EU) | Privacy Notice (EU) | Privacy Notice (CA) | Terms of Use | Site Map | KKR.com

Delivered by Investis

Privacy Notice (Non-EU) | Privacy Notice (EU) | Privacy Notice (CA) | Terms of Use | Site Map | KKR.com

© 2025 KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by Sitecore