Ackerman & Co. Launches Investment Sales Division, Names Charles Pledger to Lead Retail and Office Real Estate Platform

Atlanta-based commercial real estate firm Ackerman & Co. announced March 25 that it has launched a new Investment Sales Division and hired Charles Pledger as Managing Director for Ackerman Brokerage to lead the effort, expanding the firm's Capital Markets platform to include comprehensive advisory services for the disposition and acquisition of retail, medical-office, office, industrial, and self-storage assets across the Southeast.

New Division Integrates Investment Sales With Capital Markets

The Investment Sales Division is designed to work alongside Ackerman & Co.'s existing debt and equity placement capabilities, giving clients access to a unified set of capital markets services. According to the firm, the division will serve a range of investor types, including private equity firms, family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and owner-users.

"Our team will serve a wide range of investors, from private equity firms and family offices to high net-worth individuals and owner-users," said Pledger. "We're building a team of property specialists who will take an integrated approach to investment services, helping connect investors to real estate opportunities while providing strategic guidance to maximize their return on investment."

Leo Wiener, President of Ackerman Retail, commented on the hire. "He has already made significant strides in building our investment sales capabilities with the addition of a talented team," Wiener said. "His extensive experience in investment transactions combined with his proven leadership will be instrumental as we continue to grow our platform and expand the services we provide to investors and property owners."

Pledger Brings More Than 20 Years of Commercial Real Estate Transaction Experience

Pledger joins Ackerman & Co. from Sands Investment Group. His prior roles include Managing Director at Newmark Knight Frank and Vice President at NAI Brannen Goddard. He holds a BBA in Business Management and Marketing from the University of Georgia, where he was a three-year letterman and two-year starting defensive back for the football program.

Additional Specialists Join the Investment Sales Team

Alongside Pledger, Ackerman & Co. announced a slate of hires to staff the new division across multiple asset classes:

• Nick Stockton, Senior Vice President, specializes in medical office and multi-tenant retail real estate investment sales. He joins from AiCRE Partners, where he served as Senior Investment Advisor.
• Craig Taylor, Senior Vice President, focuses on multi-tenant retail investment sales representing buyers and sellers. He joins from CBRE, where he held a Senior Vice President role in the Capital Markets group.
• Ryan Ball, Vice President, concentrates on the sale of multi-tenant retail properties. He joins from Sands Investment Group, where he specialized in investment sales across the Southeast.
• Thomas Allen Farr Jr., Vice President, specializes in industrial real estate investment sales. He previously served as Senior Commercial Associate at Swartz Co. Commercial Real Estate.
• Taylor Wagner, Vice President, is set to join the firm in April and will serve as an investment officer focused on retail real estate acquisitions within the Ackerman Investment Division. He joins from Brownsboro Hill Capital Partners and previously worked at Ziff Real Estate Partners.
• Lawson Hull and Dade Stewart, Associates, recently joined the Investment Sales team and will support brokerage efforts through market research and client development.
• Sean Patrick, Senior Vice President, has been with the firm since 2009 and represents buyers and sellers in commercial real estate investments with a focus on retail and medical office assets.

Platform Expansion Reflects Broader Capital Markets Strategy

The launch of the Investment Sales Division is part of Ackerman & Co.'s stated strategy to offer clients an integrated suite of capital markets services — combining investment sales advisory with debt placement and equity sourcing under one platform. The firm said the approach is intended to allow investors to more efficiently deploy capital across key markets in the Southeast and beyond.

Founded in 1967, Ackerman & Co. is a privately held, full-service commercial real estate firm headquartered in Atlanta. The company retains approximately 100 real estate professionals and reports having developed and acquired 44 million square feet of office, medical, industrial, retail, and mixed-use space. The firm currently has 7 million square feet under management and maintains an investment portfolio valued at $1 billion.