Kayne Anderson Real Estate, the real estate private equity arm of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, has hired Debby Jenkins as head of its newly created multifamily impact strategy, effective Dec. 1.
Jenkins, who has more than two decades of experience in the multifamily sector, comes from Freddie Mac, where she served as executive vice president and head of multifamily. She joined the government-sponsored enterprise in 2008 and has helped provide liquidity and stability to the rental housing market with a focus on affordable housing.
KA Real Estate’s multifamily impact strategy is an extension of its existing ESG and strategic multifamily investments, which comprise over 7,500 units. According to the firm, the multifamily impact strategy will focus on development and acquisition opportunities that will be affordable for middle- and lower-income renters. The KA Real Estate team also plans to expand beyond today’s market standards in ESG and will make capital-intensive investments around clean energy solutions as well as social services focused on housing stability, economic autonomy, and advancement for the residents.
“I am thrilled to welcome such a uniquely talented and widely respected industry veteran of Debby’s caliber to KA Real Estate,” said Al Rabil, CEO of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors as well as co-founder and CEO of KA Real Estate. “By developing and enhancing high-quality assets with an overarching focus on social impact and sustainability, we are committed to driving positive change through each investment. Debby not only shares our values and vision but has spent the vast majority of her career supporting and expanding access to affordable multifamily housing. We look forward to joining forces and embarking on this next chapter together.”
KA Real Estate chief investment officer David Selznick notes that the launch of the multifamily impact strategy is a result of the firm’s belief that ESG is imperative and not just a policy.
“At KA Real Estate, we have never been about just checking the boxes. Our objective is to have significant and measurable impact in the communities where we live, work, and own properties, and to establish best practices to work toward a carbon neutral real estate industry,” Selznick says. “Debby certainly shares our view with conviction and brings her unmatched experience in the multifamily sector. We could not be more excited to work with her.”
