T
he CRE Finance Council (CREFC) has appointed Leland F. Bunch III, a 25-year veteran of the commercial real estate finance industry and Managing Director at Bank of America, as its new Chair of the Executive Committee and Board of Governors for the 2025-2026 term. Bunch succeeds Bob Foley, Partner at TPG Real Estate and Chief Financial Officer of TPG RE Finance Trust, Inc.
Bunch has extensive experience in commercial real estate finance, having overseen CMBS structuring, securitization, large loan execution, and warehouse finance at Bank of America, where he has worked for 17 years. He has spearheaded over $30 billion in CMBS 2.0/3.0 originations and serves as the bank's GSE relationship manager.
"CREFC is a vital voice for the commercial real estate market participants," said Bunch. "I look forward to advancing its mission of supporting a transparent, liquid, and efficient commercial real estate finance market."
Lisa Pendergast, President and CEO of CREFC, welcomed Bunch's appointment and thanked Foley for his leadership. The 2025-2026 CREFC Executive Committee includes Leland F. Bunch III as Chair, Lissette Rivera-Pauley as Chair-Elect, Bob Foley as Immediate Past Chair, and several other industry leaders.
The council has also added new members to its Board of Governors, including Nitin Bhasin from KBRA, Josh Cromer from Rialto Capital Advisors, and others. "We are excited to welcome these new leaders," said Pendergast. "Their diverse insights will be critical as we navigate key challenges in commercial real estate finance."
