In Industrial Outdoor Ventures (IOV), the first national real estate investor specializing exclusively in industrial service facilities (ISF) across the U.S., has announced the appointment of Raymond Keeler as chief financial officer. He has also been named a member of the firm’s investment committee. The announcement was made by IOV’s CEO, Tom Barbera.
Keeler brings more than 20 years of commercial real estate and corporate finance leadership experience to his role as CFO. His diversified background has been in the areas of acquisitions, development, capital markets, FP&A, investor relations, treasury and strategic planning in the hospitality, senior housing, healthcare, and live venue property sectors.
In this role, Keeler is responsible for the overall financial strategy of the firm. This includes the oversight of accounting and financial reporting, debt capital markets activity, investor relations and reporting, as well as HR and IT. He will also manage relationships with key external parties such as auditors, bank groups, joint venture partners, and third-party property managers.
Previously, for approximately eight years, Keeler held positions of increasing responsibility at Ryman Hospitality Properties, an $8 billion enterprise value-leading lodging and hospitality REIT that specializes in upper-upscale and luxury convention center resorts as well as live entertainment venue experiences.
Most recently as vice president of finance and strategic planning, he led consolidated financial planning and forecasting, directed debt and equity capital markets activity for a $3 billion balance sheet, and oversaw investor relations functions where he worked closely with a variety of internal and external resources, including asset management, accounting, tax, and segment level FP&A as well as bank groups, counsel and rating agencies.
Keeler has played a key role in a number of notable capital markets and M&A transactions including:
- $5.0 billion of bank financings, including revolving credit facilities, term loans, and construction loans,
- $2.4 billion of public debt and equity issuance, and
- $2.0 billion of property acquisitions, ground-up development projects, and joint venture investments.
Keeler began his real estate finance career as manager of development and acquisition analysis for Brookdale Senior Living, the nation’s largest owner/operator of senior housing communities. Cumulatively, at Brookdale and Ryman Hospitality Properties, he has been involved in more than $10 billion of capital markets, M&A and development activity in the real estate sector.
Before entering real estate finance, Keeler spent a decade as a buy-side investment analyst covering consumer and technology investments for a private fund manager.
Keeler earned a B.S. in economics and classical studies from Duke University and an M.B.A. from NYU’s Stern School of Business. He has been a CFA charterholder since 2005.
