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ATLANTA (Feb. 12, 2025) – Peachtree Group (“Peachtree”), a diversified commercial real estate investment platform, announced the appointment of Michael Brunner as executive vice president, credit investments. With an extensive background in securitized products, asset finance and commercial real estate, Brunner will be critical in elevating Peachtree’s credit platform and driving its strategic growth initiatives.
Brunner has more than 25 years of experience at top-tier financial institutions, including ATLAS SP Partners, where he was instrumental in the warehouse finance and securitized products business. He also held leadership roles at Credit Suisse, where he contributed to the Securitized Products Asset Finance division, focusing on commercial real estate finance and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS). Earlier in his career, he spent 18 years in real estate capital markets at J.P. Morgan, where he managed a loan securitization team, led a loan underwriting team and worked with bond investment clients on new issue offerings.
“Michael’s leadership in securitized finance and commercial real estate finance makes himan invaluable addition to our team,” said Michael Harper, president, hotel lending at Peachtree. “His deep institutional relationships and ability to streamline deal execution will strengthen our credit platform, broaden our market reach and enhance our portfolio. With Michael on board, we are well-positioned to optimize our credit strategies, unlock new capital sources and drive superior risk-adjusted returns for our stakeholders.”
Brunner holds an MBA from theUniversity of Florida and a Bachelor of Science in construction science from Texas A&M University.
“I am thrilled to join Peachtree Group at such an exciting time for its credit platform,” Brunner said. “Peachtree’s ability to pivot across the capital stack, combined with its track record in private credit, positions it as a commercial real estate market leader. I look forward to contributing to its continued success and growth.”
“Peachtree’s credit platform has consistently delivered strong results, supported by a team of seasoned professionals dedicated to originating, underwriting and managing private credit investments. With Michael’s leadership, the credit platform is poised for further growth, reinforcing its position as an industry leader,” Harper added.
About Peachtree Group
Peachtree Group is a vertically integrated investment management firm specializing in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in dislocated markets, anchored by commercial real estate. Today, the company manages billions in capital across acquisitions, development and lending, augmented by services designed to protect, support and grow its investments. For more information, visit www.peachtreegroup.com.
Commercial Observer | Peachtree Group originated the three-year, floating-rate, $55MM bridge loan with two 12-month extension options for Hotel Amarano Burbank Hollywood, which Nimes Real Estate acquired in late 2019. The hotel is locate in Burbank, Calif., near Warner Bros. headquarters and Walt Disney Studios.
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ATLANTA(September 22, 2025) - Peachtree Group ("Peachtree"), a leading commercial real estate investment firm overseeing a diversified portfolio of more than $8 billion, announced the hiring of Billy Gilchrist as senior vice president, originations. In this role, Gilchrist will be responsible for originating commercial real estate and hotel investments across Peachtree's lending platform.
Gilchrist brings more than a decade of leadership experience in finance, real estate and hospitality to Peachtree. He has a proven track record in executing large-scale acquisitions, new construction and capital improvement projects totaling more than $400 million. His expertise spans debt structuring, capital raising and asset management, making him a strong addition to the firm's credit platform.
"Billy's deep background in finance and real estate, combined with his ability to structure complex transactions and foster strong relationships, will be instrumental as we continue scaling our lending platform," said Jared Schlosser, head of originations and CPACE at Peachtree. "His appointment reflects our commitment to expanding our origination capabilities with leaders who bring both strategic vision and hands-on experience."
Before joining Peachtree, Gilchrist served as chief financial and investment officer of ARK, where he oversaw investment strategy, financial planning and operations. Previously, he held senior executive roles with Hotel Development & Management Group where he was instrumental in driving the company's development pipeline, acquisitions and investor engagement. Earlier in his career, he held positions with Insight Credit Union and BB&T, managing credit portfolios and small business relationships.
Gilchrist earned a Master of Science in entrepreneurship from the University of Florida's Hough Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in finance from the University of Florida's Warrington College of Business.
Commercial Observer | Pacifica Hotels has secured $126.1MM to refinance a portfolio of seven southern California hotels that hold a combined 601 rooms across San Diego, Pismo Beach, Venice, and Manhattan Beach.
Peachtree Group (along with Goldman Sachs) provided a three-year loan secured by the Belamar Hotel Manhattan Beach, which is part of the Hilton brand in Manhattan Beach, Calfornia.