AlphaMaven AlphaMaven

National Real Estate Advisors Names Kevin Verdi CEO as Jeffrey Kanne Retires

Reported by citybiz
Sep 10, 2026· 3 min read
Save Post LinkedIn Email
Key Takeaways
  • • Kevin Verdi appointed Executive Vice President effective January 2026, expanding his existing Chief Investment Officer role after more than 20 years with National Real Estate Advisors; he will oversee continued alignment of the firm's investment functions during a growth period.
  • • Jeffrey Kanne transitions from President and CEO; under his nearly 15-year leadership, his team engaged in more than $11 billion in development projects ($7.6 billion completed, $3.4 billion pending).
  • • Daniel Killinger promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, formalizing operational responsibilities while continuing as President of National Real Estate Development, a multi-market platform he has led since 2013.
  • • Jeanne Ayivorh appointed Chief Technology Officer in a newly created role, tasked with AI integration, systems modernization, and cybersecurity; she has been with the firm since its founding 25 years ago.
  • • Leadership restructuring positions National Real Estate Advisors for enterprise-level coordination and long-term growth across its investment and development platforms.
Summary
National Real Estate Advisors has announced a slate of senior leadership transitions effective January 2026, signaling a planned succession and organizational expansion as the firm navigates a period of meaningful growth. Kevin Verdi, who has served the firm for more than 20 years, was elevated to Executive Vice President while retaining his Chief Investment Officer title. In his expanded role, Verdi will oversee alignment across the firm's investment functions and portfolio construction processes, building on his central role in shaping the firm's investment strategy and Investment Committee processes.

Jeffrey Kanne transitions from his position as President and Chief Executive Officer after nearly 15 years leading the organization. During his tenure, Kanne's team engaged in more than $11 billion of development projects, comprising $7.6 billion in completed projects and $3.4 billion in pending development, demonstrating significant scale and execution capability across the firm's platform.

The leadership restructuring also includes the promotion of Daniel Killinger to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, a move that formalizes responsibilities he has been progressively assuming over the past year. Killinger will oversee enterprise-level operations with a focus on strengthening coordination across the firm and improving execution while continuing his role as President of National Real Estate Development. Under his leadership since 2013, the development platform has grown into a recognized multi-market platform known for delivering complex projects nationwide.

In a newly created role, Jeanne Ayivorh has been appointed Chief Technology Officer, effective January 2026. Ayivorh, who has been with the firm since its founding 25 years ago, will lead technology strategy, AI integration, systems modernization, and cybersecurity initiatives. She has long served as a key architect of National's operational infrastructure and has overseen the IT department while playing a central leadership role in guiding the firm's AI roadmap.

The coordinated leadership transitions reflect National Real Estate Advisors' strategic focus on enterprise coordination, operational excellence, and technological advancement during a period of expansion.

Go deeper than the headline

Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.

Start your free 7-day trial

Sources

1 outlet

AlphaMaven summarised this story from the reporting below. Each link opens the original article.

citybiz National Real Estate Advisors Names Kevin Verdi CEO as Jeffrey Kanne Retires