Melissa Farrell

Melissa Farrell is a managing director and head of U.S. Debt Originations for PGIM’s real estate business, where she leads the firm’s national commercial mortgage originations platform. Based in New York, she oversees debt origination activities across all major property types and capital sources in the United States and serves on the U.S. Debt Executive Council.
 
In her role, Melissa is responsible for overseeing the deployment of capital across Core, Core Plus, Structured, and Agency strategies to meet the evolving needs of affiliated and third-party investors. She plays a central role in shaping origination strategy, capital allocation, and risk management through market cycles.
 
With over three decades of experience, Melissa has held senior roles spanning origination, pricing and regional leadership, including managing the firm’s Eastern and Midwestern origination efforts and heading the Chicago office for more than a decade. Earlier, she worked in acquisitions, dispositions, and capital markets at Prudential Realty Group, served as an associate in the derivatives marketing group as Scotia Bank, and began her career as a hotel valuation analyst.  
 
Melissa is Co-Chair of the MBA’s Commercial Council, Chair of the Insurance Company Lenders Sub-Forum within the CREFC, and a member of ULI’s CRC Gold Council.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business and is a CFA charterholder.