Ben Blakney is President of Mesirow Institutional Real Estate Direct Investments. He is responsible for the development and strategic implementation of capital and client solutions. He has more than 30 years of investment industry experience as a senior executive in both the public and private sectors. He sits on the IRED Investment Committee, is an ex-officio member of the Mesirow DEI Council executive committee and is also a member of Mesirow’s Board of Directors.

Prior to joining Mesirow in 2014, Ben was a Managing Director at Courtland Partners, Ltd. Ben’s previous experience additionally includes senior positions as Director of Institutional Funds for the Dilweg Companies; President of NCM Capital; Treasurer of the City of Philadelphia; and Chairman of the Philadelphia Board of Pensions and Retirement.

Ben is an active member of the Pension Real Estate Association, the National Association of Securities Professionals and the Real Estate Executive Council and serves as a mentor with LINK Unlimited Scholars. Additionally, he plays a key role as co-chair of the Mesirow Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council.

Ben earned a Bachelor of Arts from Williams College and a Master in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.