Simpson Housing today announced Jason Kern has joined the company as president and chief investment officer.

Kern will report to Simpson Housing CEO Frank Rooney Jr. and work closely with the executive team at Domain Capital Group ("Domain"), which owns Simpson Housing. He will lead Simpson Housing's investment strategy, portfolio and asset management, and transaction execution. Kern will also collaborate with Domain's capital formation team to develop and bring new institutional opportunities to market.

"Jason brings deep investment judgment, institutional experience and a strong record of leading integrated real estate platforms," Rooney said. "His leadership will help advance Simpson Housing's growth while preserving the disciplined investment approach, operational excellence and resident focus that have long defined the Simpson organization."

Kern has more than three decades of experience in real estate investment management, capital markets and business leadership. Most recently, he served as president of investment management at Cortland, where he oversaw portfolio management, acquisitions, asset management, research and strategy, development, and capital markets. Previously, he was CEO of the Americas for LaSalle Investment Management, leading a business with approximately $24 billion in assets under management. Earlier in his career, he held senior real estate advisory and investment banking roles at HSBC and J.P. Morgan in the United States, Europe and Asia.

"Simpson Housing has an outstanding team, a proven operating platform and a long track record of serving residents and investors," Kern said. "I am excited to work with the teams at Simpson Housing and Domain to bring institutional-quality investment opportunities to market and create durable value for our capital partners."

Kern's appointment builds on Domain's acquisition of Simpson Housing from the State of Michigan Retirement Systems earlier this year. Domain's relationship with the Simpson organization spans more than three decades, including its service since 2008 as investment adviser overseeing the platform's operations and investment strategy on behalf of the State of Michigan Retirement Systems. Simpson Housing and Domain plan to build on existing institutional partnerships and develop new investment offerings that combine Simpson Housing's operating capabilities with Domain's investment management platform.