Industry
J. Allen Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Prudential Real Estate Investors
J. Allen Smith is chief executive officer of Prudential Real Estate Investors, Prudential Financial Inc.'s, real estate investment management and advisory business. PREI, with over $45 billion in assets under management worldwide, offers a broad range of investment opportunities and investment management services through specialized operating units in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
Smith, who has been with Prudential for more than 20 years, oversaw PREI's U.S. business prior to assuming his current role. Previously, he served as the senior portfolio manager of PREI's flagship equity real estate portfolio, as well as a series of closed-end funds for German institutional investors, and Prudential's product for defined contribution plans. He leads PREI's Global Management Committee and serves in the firm's various regional investment committees.
During his career at Prudential Financial, Smith has held positions in portfolio management, asset management, equity research, corporate finance, and strategic planning. Before Prudential, Smith worked as an assistant to the chief financial officer of the Wyndham Hotel Company.
Smith received his bachelor's degree in sociology in 1980 from Cornell University and earned a masters degree in 1986 from Cornell's School of Hotel Administration. Smith is a member of PREA, the Urban Land Institute and serves on the advisory board of Cornell University's Program in Real Estate.