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Debra A. Cafaro

ABOUT

Debra A. Cafaro

Chairman and CEO
Director since 1999

Key Experience and Qualifications

Ms. Cafaro brings to our Board substantial executive and board leadership experience. A recognized industry leader, Ms. Cafaro led the transformation of Ventas into a preeminent S&P 500 company by setting and overseeing a long-term strategy that drove the Company’s market capitalization from $0.3 billion since her leadership began in 1999 to over $40 billion in 2026. Under Ms. Cafaro’s leadership, the Company’s annualized total shareholder return (TSR) has approximated 19% for the 26 years ended December 31, 2025. Prior to joining Ventas, Ms. Cafaro was President and a Director of an NYSE-listed multi-family REIT.

Professional Experience

  • Ventas, Inc.
    • Chairman of the Board (since 2003)
    • Chief Executive Officer and Director (since 1999)
    • President (1999-2010)
  • President and Director, Ambassador Apartments, Inc. (formerly NYSE: AAH), a multi-family REIT (1997-1999)

Private Boards and Community Service

  • Member, Board of Directors of the Civic Committee and the Commercial Club of Chicago
  • Former Chair, Real Estate Roundtable
  • Former Chair, Board of Directors of The Economic Club of Chicago
  • Former Chair of the Executive Board, National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit)

Other Current Public Company Directorships

  • PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE: PNC) (since 2017)

Prior Public Company Directorships

  • Weyerhaeuser Co. (NYSE: WY) (2007-2016)
  • Ambassador Apartments, Inc. (formerly NYSE: AAH) (1997-1999)

LONG-TERM VISION
& DEEP EXPERTISE

Our leadership team and board of directors is an accomplished group of executives at the forefront of real estate, healthcare innovation, investments and public policy.

Careers

View your future with Ventas.