Executive of the Year Closeup: Jody Thornton
Under Thornton's leadership, revenue grew 18 percent and HFF broke the company record for deal volume.
This article is one in a series of brief profiles of the winners of CPE’s Executives of the Year awards. Now in its 19th year, the program recognizes the outstanding executives in commercial real estate’s major business sectors and asset categories. Winners of first place and honorable mention awards are selected by confidential vote of the CPE 100, an invited group of industry leaders.
Today’s entry offers updated information on the Financier of the Year and his company.
Jody Thornton of HFF, CPE’s Financier of the Year
Joe B. Thornton, President, HFF Inc.; Executive Managing Director & Managing Member, HFF L.P.
Headquarters: Houston
Years with the company: 23 (joined HFF’s predecessor in 1992)
Previous roles with HFF: Board member, principal, director, vice chairman.
Director since: 2006
Previous company: Joyner Mortgage Company Inc.
HFF at a glance: 22 offices and more than 275 transaction professionals nationwide.
Banner year: HFF tallied a company record $76 billion in transactions last year, an 18 percent increase compared to 2014. Total deals increased 20 percent to 2,197, also a record.
HFF arranged a $225 million construction loan for Madison Centre, a trophy tower in Seattle’s central business district.
Early 2016 highlights: Among dozens of other deals during the first quarter, HFF professionals arranged the $187 million sale of 100 East Pratt St., a trophy tower overlooking Baltimore’s Inner Harbor; secured a $225 construction loan for Madison Centre (pictured in rendering at left), a trophy office project in Seattle’s central business district; and closed the $569 million sale of a six-property seniors housing portfolio in Florida.
Park Avenue pacesetter: Last June, HFF announced that it had arranged a $556M construction loan for an office project at 425 Park Ave. in Manhattan. It will be the first full-block office development on that street in nearly 50 years.
L.A. landmark: The largest single-property loan in Freddie Mac’s history, the $878M financing of Park La Brea in Los Angeles, was announced in April 2015.
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