Joel Traut joined KKR in 2015 and is a member of the Real Estate team. He serves as Head of Originations for KKR Real Estate Credit and is responsible for business development, the origination process and team coordination across the real estate direct lending business. In addition, he is involved in sourcing, underwriting, negotiating and structuring debt investments across all credit products, asset types and geographies. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Traut spent thirteen years at GE Capital, most recently as a region manager at GE Capital Real Estate, where he led their northeast commercial team. He focused on investing in real estate credit strategies including first mortgage and mezzanine loans. He joined GE in 2002 as part of GE Capital’s financial management program and during his tenure worked across multiple GE Capital business segments including: commercial real estate, aviation services, and commercial finance corporate. Mr. Traut graduated summa cum laude from the University of Kentucky and holds a B.B.A. in Finance and Marketing. Mr. Traut is currently a member of the Urban Land Institute, Commercial Real Estate Finance Council, and National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (“NAIOP”) where he sits on its Capital Markets Council. Mr. Traut resides in New York with his wife Carolyn and two children, Evelyn and Andrew.
