Stew Ward is a founder and Managing Partner at ACORE Capital, LP, one of the largest credit managers singularly focused on commercial real estate lending, with approximately $20 billion of assets under management. For the past 4 years, ACORE Capital has ranked in the top 20 of The Real Estate Debt 50, PERE's ranking of the world's largest real estate debt fund managers.¹

Through their offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, and Dallas, ACORE originates, acquires and manages first mortgages, B-notes, mezzanine debt and preferred equity throughout the United States. Since inception in 2015, ACORE has closed over $38 billion in more than 499 transactions.

Mr. Ward has over 35 years of experience in leadership roles in the commercial real estate finance industry and capital markets. Prior to ACORE Capital, Mr. Ward's leadership roles include: Chief Financial Officer of Starwood Property Trust, a founder of Countrywide Commercial Real Estate Finance, a founding partner of Coastal Capital Partners, Co-leader of the construction lending business and risk management of Nomura’s commercial real estate finance division, and ultimately co-managed the division. Mr. Ward began his career at Morgan Stanley's fixed income division.

The Commercial Observer has honored Mr. Ward in their annual listing 'The 50 Most Important Figures of Commercial Real Estate Finance', ranking him in the top 15 for the past 7 years.¹

Mr. Ward received a B.A. degree in Economics from the University of Colorado and a M.B.A. degree from Carnegie-Mellon University.