Minneapolis-based PACE Loan Group (PLG), a leading player in Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing, has appointed Kenneth Sacco as its new Chief Financial Officer. Sacco, who has advised on transactions worth over $10 billion and arranged over $30 billion in debt financing during his career, will lead the company’s capital markets functions. His appointment, announced on Friday, marks a return to the real estate sector after his most recent senior corporate finance and treasury roles at Netflix and Life Time.
Rafi Golberstein, CEO of PLG, commented on the new appointment: “We sought a strategic finance leader who could guide PLG through this next phase of growth. Ken brings a rare combination of skills: genuine institutional capital markets experience coupled with profound expertise in commercial real estate. As PLG expands, this combination is exactly what we need to scale our finance and capital markets functions.”
Extensive Experience in Real Estate and Finance Sectors
Sacco’s career in finance began as a consultant in the real estate advisory practices of Ernst & Young and KPMG. He later transitioned to investment banking, working for Lehman Brothers in New York and Barclays Capital in London. He also worked in brokerage, leading financial advisory practices as Managing Director at CBRE and JLL. His extensive career underscores his expertise in complex financial structuring and his passion for commercial real estate.
In recent years, PLG has emerged as a leading provider in the C-PACE segment. In January 2026, the company closed the first deal under the newly relaunched programme in New Jersey, a $45.5 million loan to recapitalise Tower Investments' Island Waterpark project at the Showboat in Atlantic City. The company has expanded its presence across the US with new offices in Austin, Texas, Chicago, New York City and San Diego.
Sacco emphasised that C-PACE combines his background in complex financial structuring with his passion for commercial real estate, and that PLG enters the current growth phase of the industry from a position of strength. He highlighted that PLG's fully in-house operating model, combined with financial backing from AB CarVal, provides a competitive advantage over other C-PACE providers.
Academic Background and Commitment
Kenneth Sacco earned a BBA from Miami University in Ohio and subsequently an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He also holds the Master of Corporate Real Estate (MCR) certification from CoreNet Global. Prior to his career in finance, Sacco served in the United States Marine Corps in an infantry weapons company.
