Michael Penner
Associate Director, Mortgage Origination
Bio
Michael’s career spans both the ownership and origination sides of commercial real estate. On the ownership side, Michael was a Vice President at a prominent private investment firm with over $2 billion in assets under management, where he led financial analysis, portfolio strategy, and value-add repositioning programs — guiding aging assets from acquisition through construction to stabilization. On the origination side, Michael has structured and secured financing for developers, investors, and owners across all asset classes, including multifamily, industrial, retail, office, and development, on transactions across Canada.
Having underwritten risk, structured capital, and executed business plans with an owner’s capital on the line, Michael advises clients with the full business plan in view.
I returned to CICI because this is where deals get done. After leading strategy and execution on the ownership side, I knew the work I found most rewarding was sitting across from clients, structuring transactions, and delivering results. There is no better platform in the country to do it.
My strengths are seeing a transaction the way my clients do. Having managed assets, executed repositioning strategies, and delivered construction projects on the ownership side, I structure financing around the business plan.
I believe the keys to success are integrity, preparation, and work ethic.
I like working in commercial real estate finance because every project comes with its own unique problem set. The right structure can be the difference between a project that stalls and one that outperforms, and getting to solve that puzzle alongside my clients is extremely rewarding.
The best part of my day is working on complex problems with my clients and ICI team members.