Team | MITSUI FUDOSAN AMERICA

John Westerfield

Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Westerfield serves as Chief Executive Officer of Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc. and is a member of MFA's Board of Directors. Mr. Westerfield was appointed CEO effective April 1, 2015, after serving as Senior Advisor to MFA's BOD from 2012 to 2015. In that capacity, Mr. Westerfield provided strategic advice regarding business planning and investment strategy. Mr. Westerfield also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Halekulani Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of MFA.

Mr. Westerfield spent the bulk of his career as a managing director at Morgan Stanley, having joined the firm in 1985 upon graduation from business school. At MS, Mr. Westerfield worked in numerous roles in investment banking, fixed income and investment management, all with a specialization in commercial real estate finance and investment. In his last role at Morgan Stanley, Mr. Westerfield had responsibility for the the firm’s global commercial mortgage finance business.

Upon retirement from Morgan Stanley in June, 2008, Mr. Westerfield formed and managed Braddock Capital Management, a private LLC which invested in REITs and commercial real estate related assets, including various office, industrial, multi-family rental and condominium development projects, primarily in the New York area.

Mr. Westerfield received an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1985 and an AB in Government from Dartmouth College in 1981.

Kaoru Yamaoka

President

Mr. Yamaoka is responsible for strategic planning for growth initiatives in addition to evaluating asset management and property acquisition. Mr. Yamaoka joined Mitsui Fudosan Group (Tokyo) in 1988 and became Senior Vice President, Corporate Planning of Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc. in 2014.

Mr. Yamaoka began his career at Mitsui Fudosan Group leading the Accounting and Finance Department's corporate debt financing. In 1993, he transitioned to the Office and Tenant Leasing Department, where he conducted marketing research and implemented the development of office tenant leasing. In 1998, Mr. Yamaoka was assigned to develop the prestigious 42-story, 2 million square foot mixed use office building, Shiodome City Center, with sovereign wealth funds. Upon successful completion of the project in 2003, Mr. Yamaoka transitioned to asset management and remained in that position until 2009.

Mr. Yamaoka began honing his global management skills when he joined the International Department of Mitsui Fudosan Group in 2009. As the Executive Manager, Planning and Administration Group of the International Department, Mr. Yamaoka was responsible for the company's portfolio management in the US and Europe.

Mr. Yamaoka received his Bachelor of Law from Keio University in Tokyo.

Ian J. Bentata

Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Bentata is responsible for all aspects of the company's financial management, including financial planning and reporting, control, taxation and financing, as well as assisting with underwriting and due diligence for acquisitions. He also oversees human resources, information technology and administration.

Prior to joining the company in 2001, Mr. Bentata spent seven years at Turner Construction International, an international construction and engineering firm, where he held the position of Chief Financial Officer and was responsible for all aspects of financial planning and control. Prior to that Mr. Bentata served as Group Controller for Abu Garcia, a multinational group of consumer products companies.

Upon graduating university Mr. Bentata worked in the Stockholm, Sweden office of Price Waterhouse until 1985. He then transferred to Price Waterhouse's Morristown, New Jersey office. At Price Waterhouse Mr. Bentata was responsible for audit and consulting services in a variety of industries.

Mr. Bentata graduated from Stockholm University, Sweden with a B.Sc. in Finance and Marketing and is a CPA. Professional affiliations include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants and Financial Executives International.

Atsuhiro Ishikawa

Senior Vice President, Corporate Planning

Mr. Ishikawa is responsible for various Corporate Planning, Corporate Financing, Asset Management and Development Management activities. Mr. Ishikawa joined Mitsui Fudosan Group (Tokyo) in 1991 and was transferred to Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc. in 2017.

Mr. Ishikawa began his career at Mitsui Fudosan performing financial analysis and taxation work in the Accounting and Finance Department. He later moved to the Corporate Consulting Department, where he completed consulting and brokerage assignments for various clients. From 2003 to 2011, he was responsible for various acquisition and disposition activities on office and residential properties. In 2011, he transitioned to Investor Relations, becoming head of the Department in 2013. Mr. Ishikawa began honing his international business skills in 2016, when he joined Mitsui Fudosan’s International Department as the Executive Manager, overseeing portfolio management in the United States and Europe.

Mr. Ishikawa graduated from The University of Tokyo with a bachelor’s degree in Economics.

Sean F. McSweeney

Senior Vice President, Acquisitions

Mr. McSweeney is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the company's US investment strategy, which includes sourcing new opportunities; monitoring, maintaining, and reviewing the acquisition transaction pipeline; and all phases of due diligence.

During his tenure with the company he has held a variety of positions in the firm's acquisition, finance, and asset management groups.

Upon graduation and until joining the company in 2001, Mr. McSweeney worked in the financial reporting group for a real estate syndication company focusing on Senior Living and multi-family apartments.

Mr. McSweeney graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1996, with a B.B.A in Accountancy.

Christopher N. Perez

Senior Vice President, Asset Management & Leasing

Mr. Perez became Senior Vice President of Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc. in April 2008, and has been employed by MFA since 1988. Prior to his promotion in 2008, Mr. Perez had served as Vice President of Asset Management & Leasing and was responsible for leasing, property management, and asset management of the entire Mitsui Fudosan America commercial real estate portfolio. This included such recognizable properties in New York as 1251 Avenue of the Americas, 461 Fifth Avenue, 527 Madison Avenue, and 100 William Street, as well as 1090 Vermont Avenue, N.W. in Washington, D.C.

During his tenure with MFA, Mr. Perez has held a variety of positions and has handled the asset management of commercial office properties nationwide. He has been directly responsible for leasing over 2 million square feet of commercial office and retail space. This includes notable transactions with Banco Santander, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Chubb, DLA Piper, J.P. Morgan Chase, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Paulson & Company, Sidley Austin, and Trust Company of the West. Mr. Perez also has spearheaded capital improvement programs that led to several prominent building awards, including the BOMA New York and BOMA International Award for Excellence in 1997 and 1998, and the International Real Estate Federation's Prix d'Excellence award in 1999.

Prior to joining MFA, Mr. Perez was employed by Exxon Corporation in New York for seven years. Mr. Perez's career at Exxon was capped by his participation in the sale of the Exxon Building to Mitsui Fudosan in 1986 for $610 million, the highest price paid for a commercial office building at that time.

Mr. Perez is a graduate of Pace University and the Pace University Graduate School of Business

Masahiro Yaguchi

Senior Vice President, Asset Management & Leasing

Mr. Yaguchi is responsible for leasing and asset management of the company’s properties. He joined Mitsui Fudosan Group (Tokyo) in 1991 and became Vice President of Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc. in 2013.

During his career with the company in Japan, he held a variety of positions in Office Building Development, Human Resources and the Nagoya Branch office.

Mr. Yaguchi graduated from Waseda University in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

Ana Maria Bertuna

Vice President, Design and Construction

Ms. Bertuna is responsible for overseeing the planning, design, and construction of development projects.

With over 30 years of experience, Ms. Bertuna has worked on major projects from architectural design through construction management for residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments.

Prior to joining MFA, Ms. Bertuna was with Tishman Speyer and served as the project executive of The JACX, a 1.3 million square foot commercial development in Long Island City. Ms. Bertuna spent over 10 years as an architect for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill before pursuing a career in development with The Related Companies. Her experience with Related includes 14 years of managing residential and commercial projects, including Time Warner Center and Hudson Yards.

Ms. Bertuna earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Architecture from Pratt Institute in 1986. She is a licensed Architect in the State of New York and a member of the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. She serves on the scholarship committee of WX, New York Women Executives in Real Estate and on the Board of Directors of the Façade Tectonics Institute.

Robert Davidson

Vice President, Development & Asset Management

Mr. Davidson is responsible for development and asset management of MFA’s investments in the western United States.

With 20 years of experience, Rob has spent his career working on the construction, development and investment management of urban infill residential and commercial projects. Prior to joining Mitsui Fudosan America Inc. in 2014, Mr. Davidson worked for Thompson Development, Inc., a privately held real estate developer with a portfolio of housing and office projects in the San Francisco Bay Area. Earlier, Mr. Davidson assisted in the financing over $300 million of housing with Weyerhaeuser Realty Investors, a private equity firm and CalPERS advisor.

Mr. Davidson graduated from University of Denver in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Tatsu Imamura

Treasurer and Corporate Secretary

Mr. Imamura is responsible for corporate financing, cash management and corporate governance. Mr. Imamura joined Mitsui Fudosan Group (Tokyo) in 1997 and was transferred to Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc. in 2013.

Prior to joining Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc., Mr. Imamura held various positions in Mitsui Fudosan Group (Tokyo), including working on the development of Tokyo Midtown and several residential development projects.

Mr. Imamura graduated from The University of Tokyo with a bachelor’s degree in Economics.

Takeshi Iwama

Vice President, Acquisitions

Mr. Iwama is responsible for acquisitions and residential development. He joined Mitsui Fudosan Group (Tokyo) in 1996, and became Vice President of Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc. in 2016.

Mr. Iwama has more than a decade of experience in acquisitions including residential, office, hospitality and golf courses. Previously, Mr. Iwama spent approximately 10 years in Mitsui’s Financial and Accounting Department, including roles in corporate financial planning, financial analysis, taxation, and organizational restructuring.

Mr. Iwama received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Economics from Waseda University.

Frank G. Montes

Vice President, Development & Operations

Mr. Montes is responsible for overseeing all development projects in the US, as well as capital improvements, property management, and sustainability. He also assists with underwriting and due diligence on acquisitions. Mr. Montes joined Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc. in 2007.

With over 30 years' experience in real estate, Mr. Montes has worked in commercial and residential property management, facilities management, asset management, construction management, and historic preservation.

Mr. Montes graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts degree (magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa) and a Master of Science degree. He is a member of the Building Owners and Managers Association and the Construction Management Association of America.

Stuart Morkun

Vice President, Development

Mr. Morkun is responsible for executing the company’s development projects in greater Los Angeles, including overseeing entitlement, project management, marketing, operations and community engagement.

With more than 25-years of real estate experience, Mr. Morkun has been involved in the planning, design and development of office, industrial, retail and multi-family projects totaling more than 15 million square feet located throughout the United States and Asia.

Mr. Morkun graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture. He is a licensed real estate broker in the State of California and a United States Green Building Council LEED Accredited Professional.

Keith R. Purcell

Vice President, Asset Management & Leasing

Mr. Purcell is responsible for asset management, property management, development and leasing activities within the company's commercial real estate portfolio. He joined Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc. in 2013.

Mr. Purcell has more than 15 years of experience managing commercial real estate investments in the US, Belgium, Brazil and Canada. Prior to joining MFA, Mr. Purcell was Vice President of Asset Management at L&L Holding Company, a privately held real estate firm that specializes in Manhattan office properties. Previously, Mr. Purcell held positions at GIC Real Estate (the real estate arm of The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation) and Fortress Investment Group.

Mr. Purcell earned a BBA from Loyola University Maryland and received an MBA from the University of Delaware, where he was awarded the Chaplin Tyler Fellowship.

Satoru Yamashita

Vice President, General Manager, San Francisco Branch

Mr. Yamashita is responsible for overseeing Mitsui Fudosan America’s operations on the West Coast, including asset management, development, leasing activities and property acquisitions. Mr. Yamashita joined Mitsui Fudosan Group (Tokyo) in 1995 and was transferred to Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc. in 2016.

Mr. Yamashita has a wide range of real estate experience, including project management, investment advisory and asset management on behalf of foreign institutions investing in Japan. Mr. Yamashita graduated from Keio University in Tokyo with a bachelor’s degree in Law.

Azeema Yasin

Vice President and Controller

Ms. Yasin is responsible for all of the company's financial and management accounting operations, planning and financial reporting, internal controls and taxation, as well as support of the corporate financial planning and analysis functions.

Before joining Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc. in 2008, Ms. Yasin held the position of Controller with Deutsch, a manufacturer of mechanical connectors for defense, aerospace and other harsh environments. Ms. Yasin also worked for seven years in the medical device manufacturing industry with C.R Bard, Inc. in the position of corporate accounting manager, and at Cottet Optical, Inc. as the corporate controller.

Ms. Yasin started her career in the hotel industry working for Forte Hotels/Le Meridien for over 10 years and she held several positions of increasing responsibility during her tenure there, some of which was spent overseas, mainly the Caribbean and United Kingdom.

Ms. Yasin earned an M.Sc. In Taxation from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a B.Sc. from Emile Woolfe College and is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.