F. Austin Peña serves as President of Blackstone Mortgage Trust REIT CLA, a leading real estate investment trust focused on originating and managing senior loans collateralized by commercial real estate in the United States and Europe. With over 25 years of experience in real estate finance and investment management, Peña has built a distinguished career navigating complex market cycles and driving value for investors. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he honed his expertise in structured finance and asset management. Peña joined Blackstone Mortgage Trust in 2015 as Chief Investment Officer, quickly ascending to President in 2019 due to his instrumental role in expanding the company’s loan origination platform from $5 billion to over $20 billion in assets under management. His notable achievements include spearheading the successful navigation through the COVID-19 market disruptions, achieving a 15% annualized return for shareholders during that period, and pioneering innovative loan products that enhanced portfolio diversification and risk-adjusted yields. Prior to Blackstone, he spent a decade at Goldman Sachs in the real estate principal investment group, where he managed a $10 billion portfolio of commercial mortgage-backed securities and closed landmark transactions totaling $3 billion. In his current role, Peña oversees all aspects of investment strategy, portfolio management, and capital markets activities, ensuring alignment with the REIT’s mandate to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns. Under his leadership, Blackstone Mortgage Trust has maintained a top-tier dividend yield while upholding stringent credit underwriting standards, solidifying its position as a premier player in the commercial real estate lending space. Peña is also actively involved in industry advocacy, serving on the board of the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Commercial Real Estate Finance Council.