Leadership Team
Matthew Kaufold
Managing Partner & Co-Founder
Matthew is a Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Breakwater Property Partners. Prior to founding Breakwater, he was a Senior Vice President serving as the head of Asset Management at McCarthy Cook & Co., where he led the firm’s strategic asset management platform and directed portfolio leasing, management, operations and tenant/partner/lender/investor relations.
During his 19-year tenure at McCarthy Cook, Matthew held a variety of senior positions within the firm. After beginning his career supporting MCC’s acquisition efforts, he spent roughly 10 years managing the firm’s Arizona office portfolio through the difficulties of the GFC. Upon the successful disposition of the portfolio, Matthew co-led MCC’s acquisitions efforts in the Western US and successfully executed on the firm’s growth strategy. In his asset management roles, he led the accretive repositioning of multiple Class A office campuses, negotiated and executed over 3 million square feet of leases, completed numerous institutional financings and directed several successful dispositions. As a long-standing member of MCC’s Investment and Executive Management Committees, Matthew helped develop and execute the firm’s investment, management and human resources strategies. Prior to joining McCarthy Cook, Matthew was trained in the art of inspired hospitality and curated customer experiences by Montage Hotels and Resorts as an early team member at the company’s flagship Montage Laguna Beach resort.
Matthew graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. He is a member of ULI, a frequent volunteer with Junior Achievement of Los Angeles and heavily involved in youth sports in South Orange County, CA.
Acquired
$1.6 billion
3.8 million SF
Financed
$1.1 billion
13 Loans
Sold
$2.6 billion
6.0 million SF
Managed
6.9 million SF
Leased
$1.1 billion
3.0 million SF
Ben Lankenau
Managing Partner & Co-Founder
Ben is a Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Breakwater Property Partners. Prior to founding Breakwater, he was a Vice President serving as the head of Acquisitions at McCarthy Cook & Co., where he led the firm’s national acquisition efforts and chaired its Investment Committee for approximately 8 of his 9 years of tenure.
In addition to leading McCarthy Cook’s acquisition efforts, Ben played a critical role in fundraising, joint venture structuring, capital partner relations, subordinated debt originations, dispositions, financings and various other asset management responsibilities. Additionally, Ben was a member of McCarthy Cook’s Executive Management Committee where he contributed to the company’s human resources and other corporate directives. Prior to joining McCarthy Cook, Ben was an Associate at FMV Opinions, where he led numerous valuations of commercial real estate assets nationwide. Ben has over 11 years of experience investing in and executing on commercial real estate strategies that span the risk spectrum from entitlement and development to stabilized core and throughout the capital stack.
Ben graduated with honors from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California with a concentration in finance. While at USC, Ben was a varsity athlete and a member of the four-time, Division I National Champion men’s tennis team. In his spare time, Ben is an avid pilot and Junior Achievement volunteer, where he currently sits on the Southern California Board of Directors. Additionally, Ben is a member of ULI and has appeared as a guest lecturer and real estate case competition judge at his alma matter.
Acquired
$1.5 billion
2.3 million SF
Financed
$1.5 billion
12 Loans
Sold
$1.8 billion
3.1 million SF
Managed
4.3 million SF
Raised
$930 million
The figures above represent transactions led by or actively involving the principals of Breakwater Property Partners during their tenure at McCarthy Cook & Co. The figures represent individual involvement and are not necessarily additive.