People

Ventas, Inc. leadership

12 board membersSource: SEC DEF 14A

Snapshot

Ventas, Inc.'s leadership comprises 12 directors and 7 named executive officers, led by Debra A. Cafaro (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer). Names, tenure and backgrounds are sourced from the latest SEC proxy statement (DEF 14A).

Board size
12
Source
Proxy statement

Board & leadership

Board of directors
Melody C. BarnesIndependent DirectorSince 2014

Independent Director since 2014, Chair of the Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee. Governance and public policy expert; Executive Director of the Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia and co-founder and principal of MB2 Solutions, LLC. Former Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council under President Obama (2009-2012). Prior public company director of Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. (2015-2025).

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Theodore R. BigmanIndependent DirectorSince 2024

Independent Director since 2024, member of the Investment Committee. More than 30 years of REIT investment experience. Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Bigman Holdings (since 2021) and Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School. Built and led Morgan Stanley Investment Management's Global Listed Real Assets business (1995-2021). Prior public company directorships at American Industrial Properties REIT (1997-2000) and Grove Property Trust (1998-2000). Appointed to the Board March 4, 2024 in connection with a cooperation agreement with Land & Buildings.

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Debra A. Cafaro (Director)Chairman and CEO (Director)Since 1999

Director since 1999, Chairman and CEO of Ventas. Serves on the board of PNC Financial Services Group (since 2017). Prior public boards: Weyerhaeuser Co. (2007-2016), Ambassador Apartments, Inc. (1997-1999). See officer entry for full biography.

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Michael J. EmblerIndependent DirectorSince 2022

Independent Director since 2022, member of the Audit and Compliance Committee and Investment Committee. Former Chief Investment Officer of Franklin Mutual Advisers, overseeing over $85 billion in assets. Over 25 years of public board experience. Current public director of NMI Holdings (since 2012); prior public boards include American Airlines Group (2013-2025), Taubman Centers (2018-2020) and Kindred Healthcare (2001-2008).

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Matthew J. LustigIndependent DirectorSince 2011

Independent Director since 2011, Chair of the Investment Committee. Over 35 years of real estate industry experience. Chairman of Investment Banking, North America and Head of Real Estate & Lodging at Lazard Freres & Co. Current public director of Boston Properties, Inc. (since 2011).

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Roxanne M. MartinoLead Independent DirectorSince 2016

Lead Independent Director since 2016 (appointed Lead Independent Director effective following the 2024 Annual Meeting), Chair of the Compensation Committee and member of the Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee. Managing Partner of OceanM19; former CEO, Partner and Chair of the Investment Committee of Aurora Investment Management (1990-2016), managing over $14 billion in assets. Began career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (1977-1984). No current or prior public company directorships.

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Marguerite M. NaderIndependent DirectorSince 2020

Independent Director since 2020, member of the Audit and Compliance Committee and Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee. Vice Chairman and CEO of Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (current public director since 2013). Prior public director of Liberty Property Trust (2017-2020).

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Sean P. NolanIndependent DirectorSince 2019

Independent Director since 2019, member of the Compensation Committee and Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee. 35 years in the life sciences industry. CEO and Chairman of Taysha Gene Therapies. Former President and CEO of AveXis, sold to Novartis for $8.7 billion. Current public director and Chairman of Taysha Gene Therapies (since 2020); prior public boards include Neoleukin Therapeutics (2019-2020) and Aquinox Pharmaceuticals (2015-2019).

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Walter C. RakowichIndependent DirectorSince 2016

Independent Director since 2016, Chair of the Audit and Compliance Committee and member of the Investment Committee. Former CEO of Prologis, Inc.; led its turnaround and $17 billion merger with AMB Property Corporation. Over 20 years of public board experience. Current public director of Host Hotels & Resorts (since 2012) and Iron Mountain (since 2015); prior public director of Prologis (2005-2012).

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Joe V. Rodriguez, Jr.Independent DirectorSince 2024

Independent Director since 2024, member of the Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee. Over 40 years of experience; one of six Founding Partners of Invesco Real Estate, which he helped grow from $1B to $90B AUM. President of Burnt Mountain Investments, LLC (since 2023). Appointed to the Board March 4, 2024 in connection with a cooperation agreement with Land & Buildings. No current or prior public company directorships.

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Sumit RoyIndependent DirectorSince 2022

Independent Director since 2022 (appointed effective October 1, 2022), member of the Investment Committee. President and CEO of Realty Income Corporation (current public director since 2018). Former Executive Director at UBS Investment Bank responsible for more than $57 billion in real estate capital markets and advisory transactions.

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Maurice S. SmithIndependent DirectorSince 2021

Independent Director since 2021, member of the Audit and Compliance Committee and Compensation Committee. Over 30 years in the health insurance industry. Chairman, President and CEO of Health Care Service Corporation. Current public director of Halliburton Company (since 2023).

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Executive leadership
Debra A. CafaroChairman and Chief Executive OfficerSince 1999

Chairman of the Board (since 2003) and Chief Executive Officer and Director (since 1999) of Ventas; also served as President from 1999 to 2010. Led the transformation of Ventas into an S&P 500 company, growing market capitalization from $0.3 billion to over $40 billion. Prior to Ventas, was President and a Director of Ambassador Apartments, Inc., an NYSE-listed multi-family REIT (1997-1999). Serves on the board of PNC Financial Services Group (since 2017); prior public boards include Weyerhaeuser Co. (2007-2016) and Ambassador Apartments (1997-1999).

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Robert F. ProbstExecutive Vice President and Chief Financial OfficerSince 2014

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ventas since October 2014; assumed interim Chief Accounting Officer responsibilities in February 2026 following Gregory Liebbe's departure. Previously Senior Vice President and CFO of Beam Inc. (2011-2014); VP of Finance, Strategy and M&A for the Medication Delivery division at Baxter International; eight years at Diageo PLC, most recently CFO, Global Supply. Early roles at The Pillsbury Company and The Northern Trust Bank. B.A. in Economics from Duke University; M.B.A. from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

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Peter J. BulgarelliExecutive Vice President, Outpatient Medical and Research, Ventas, Inc.; President and CEO, Lillibridge Healthcare Services, Inc.Since 2018

Executive Vice President, Outpatient Medical and Research of Ventas and President and CEO of Lillibridge Healthcare Services, Inc. (a wholly owned Ventas subsidiary). Joined Ventas in 2018 after a 28-year career at Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL), where he most recently led industry-focused businesses including healthcare, life sciences, higher education and public sector. Serves on the boards of PMB Real Estate Services, Ardent Health Services and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Illinois; M.B.A. from Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Business. Retired effective May 1, 2026.

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J. Justin HutchensExecutive Vice President, Senior Housing and Chief Investment OfficerSince 2020

Executive Vice President, Senior Housing since March 2020 and Chief Investment Officer since January 2023, responsible for the Senior Housing portfolio and capital allocation strategy. Prior to Ventas, was CEO of HC-One; previously President and Chief Investment Officer of HCP (now Healthpeak Properties); CEO, COO and President of National Health Investors; and COO of Emeritus Corporation. Serves on the boards of Atria Senior Living and the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing. B.S. from the University of Northern Colorado; M.S. in Management from Regis University.

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Carey S. RobertsExecutive Vice President, General Counsel, Ethics & Compliance Officer and Corporate SecretarySince 2020

Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Ethics & Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary since March 2020, responsible for legal, compliance, tax, government relations, risk and sustainability. Prior to Ventas, was EVP, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of Assurant, Inc.; before that Deputy General Counsel, Global Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary of Marsh & McLennan Companies; and a partner in the corporate practice of Covington & Burling LLP. Bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago and J.D. from George Washington University Law School. Notified Ventas June 15, 2026 of intention to resign effective June 26, 2026 to join Blackstone as Senior Managing Director and General Counsel - Real Estate.

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Gregory R. LiebbeSenior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller

Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) of Ventas, signatory to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. Served Ventas for approximately 20 years, including 10 years as Chief Accounting Officer. Resigned to pursue other opportunities, with last day of employment February 27, 2026.

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Kevin M. BohlSenior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary (interim General Counsel, Ethics & Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary as of June 26, 2026)Since 2011

Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary for Ventas, with the Company since 2011. Will assume the responsibilities of General Counsel, Ethics & Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary on an interim basis as of June 26, 2026, following the resignation of Carey S. Roberts.

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