CHICAGO — Ventas Inc. (NYSE: VTR) has appointed J. Justin Hutchens as executive vice president, senior housing, North America, effective April 1.
The appointment is part of a series of actions, including a realignment of current executive team responsibilities, to improve the company’s performance in seniors housing.
In this newly created role, Hutchens will oversee the Chicago-based REIT’s seniors housing business in North America, which includes over 700 properties that provide high-quality environments for approximately 60,000 seniors. The company is the second largest owner of seniors housing in the United States by units. Hutchens will serve on the executive team and report to Debra Cafaro, chairman and CEO.
Hutchens brings more than 25 years of senior housing experience to Ventas. Throughout his career, he has overseen operations of many complex portfolios of senior living communities and care homes. Hutchens most recently served as chief executive officer of HC-One, where he led the company during a significant period of refinement and growth resulting in Britain’s largest residential and nursing care home operator with over 300 communities in England, Scotland and Wales.
Hutchens’ prior roles include serving as chief operating officer of Emeritus, a senior living company that was the largest operator of assisted living in the U.S. during his tenure; chief executive officer, chief operating officer and president of National Health Investors; and president of HCP (now Healthpeak Properties). Hutchens will serve as one of Ventas’ two representatives on the Eclipse Senior Living Board of Directors.
Ventas is simultaneously realigning some areas of executive responsibility:
- Robert Probst, CFO, will add oversight of the tax and risk management functions to his role. He will continue to oversee the capital markets, financial planning, analysis, accounting, reporting, investor relations and IT functions.
- John Cobb, executive vice president of investments, will continue to lead enterprise-wide investments and dispositions for the company, while adding oversight of Brian Newman, Ventas portfolio strategy officer and one of the managing directors of the company’s newly launched Perpetual Life Vehicle fund. Cobb’s team will continue to source all investments, including those to be included in the fund’s portfolio.
- Peter Bulgarelli, executive vice president of office and CEO of Lillibridge Healthcare Services, has assumed responsibility for the Healthcare Asset Management group, which includes the company’s acute and post-acute portfolios. This structure is designed to take advantage of Bulgarelli’s prior career experience to handle Ventas’ medical office, hospital and post-acute portfolios. Bulgarelli serves on the Ardent Health Services Board of Directors.