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People

Richard Ressler

Richard S. Ressler co-founded CIM Group in 1994 and serves as its Executive Chairman. CIM invests in, develops, owns, operates and lends against real estate and infrastructure, with a stated emphasis on projects that contribute to local communities. Ressler also founded Orchard Capital and has held senior positions across CIM-affiliated investment and operating companies. CIM Group

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Known For

  • Co-founding CIM Group in 1994 and helping build a real estate and infrastructure investment platform.
  • Combining private real estate ownership and development with lending, listed investment vehicles, and operating-company oversight.
  • Founding Orchard Capital, through which he continues to hold leadership positions across CIM-affiliated businesses.

Career

Ressler began his career as a lawyer at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in 1983, working on public offerings, private placements, and mergers and acquisitions. He later held executive roles at Brooke Group before founding Orchard Capital. In 1994, he co-founded CIM Group and became its Executive Chairman. CIM describes itself as a community-focused real estate and infrastructure owner, operator, lender, and developer. Ressler also serves as CEO, president, and chairman of the board of Creative Media & Community Trust Corporation, a public REIT affiliated with CIM, and has led other CIM-sponsored investment companies through mergers and transitions. These are separate corporate roles and should not be collapsed into a claim that he is CEO of every CIM business.

Investment Scope

CIM's model combines direct property investment and operations with lending and investment vehicles, including office, residential, and infrastructure activities. Ressler's public biography reflects a governance and platform-building role across these businesses. Individual acquisitions, operating outcomes, and community impacts are company-level matters unless the relevant transaction record names his specific role. He holds degrees from Brown University and Columbia University (law and business).

Related Pages

  • Investor People Hub
  • CIM Group
  • Los Angeles Geography Hub
  • Source: Top CRE Leaders Major US Cities

Sources