New York People and Company News, Week of March 27, 2026

The CRE Finance Council (CREFC) announced that president and CEO Lisa Pendergast has informed the organization’s Board of Governors of her intention to retire on or about August 3, 2026, following a decade of her leadership. Pendergast guided CREFC through a period of significant growth and industry evolution. During her tenure, the organization increased membership by more than 30%.

Houlihan Lokey, Inc., a global investment bank, announced that Steven Loffman has joined as a managing director in its Capital Solutions Group. Loffman will be based in New York and will lead the U.S. Real Estate Capital Advisory practice. He joins the firm following 18 years at Raymond James & Associates.

CBRE Group, Inc. announced that Anuj Kadyan will join the company as Chief Technology & Transformation Officer on May 15. Mr. Kadyan is currently a senior partner at McKinsey & Company, where he serves as co-leader of the Technology Services practice.

Better Home & Finance Holding Company has appointed Hugh Frater, a founding partner and former managing director of BlackRock and former CEO of Fannie Mae, to its board of directors. Frater brings decades of experience across capital markets, housing finance, and corporate leadership to help guide Better’s long-term strategy as it scales the Tinman AI Platform.

Real estate advisory firm A&G Real Estate Partners appointed Nicole Smith to the newly created position of head of marketing and communications. Smith brings more than 15 years of experience driving growth, brand evolution and engagement for advisory, consulting, technology, and financial services organizations.

Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, a construction law firm, has added Nicholas J. Kauffman as a partner in its New York office. Kauffman brings nearly three decades of experience representing owners, developers, construction managers, architects and engineers and contractors in complex commercial construction matters. His practice has focused on construction litigation, professional liability defense, risk management counseling and dispute resolution.

Guckenheimer, the culinary division of ISS North America, has appointed global hospitality executive Bruno Loosli as VP of Operations for the East Region. Loosli brings more than two decades of expertise leading complex, multi-site hospitality and food service environments.

Global consulting firm DeSimone Consulting Engineering has merged with Constructive Engineering Design (CED), a Kansas-based firm providing expert services in steel procurement, structural engineering, structural connection design, and detailing. The merger includes CED’s Steel Frame Alliance division, which offers design-supply steel fabrication services tailored to steel and concrete structures.

DIGroup Architecture (DIG) and James L. Evers, RA (JLE) are collaborating to design the new Montclair Veterans Service Center, a redevelopment of American Legion Crawford Crews Post 251 that will provide supportive housing and vital resources for homeless, at-risk and aging veterans. DIG’s design will replace the current, deteriorating structure at 210 Bloomfield Ave. with a multi-story facility that will include 11 supportive units along with space dedicated to community engagement, education and veteran services.

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