Kenneth F. Bernstein is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Acadia Realty Trust, which he co-founded in 1998. Acadia Realty Trust is a real estate investment trust specializing in the acquisition, redevelopment and management of necessity-based retail properties. Acadia owns, or has ownership interest in, and operates 77 properties totaling approximately 5 million square feet.
Under Mr. Bernstein’s leadership, Acadia has successfully executed its growth initiatives through a series of strategic acquisition funds, AKR Funds I, II, and III, enabling the organization to acquire over $3 billion of real estate across the United States. Currently, the Company has a strong pipeline with over 2 million square feet of urban redevelopment projects in New York City.
Prior to his appointment as CEO in January of 2001, Mr. Bernstein served as President of Acadia with responsibility for all investments and day-to-day operations of the Company. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer of RD Capital until its merger with Mark Centers Trust in 1998, creating Acadia Realty Trust. From 1986 until 1990, Mr. Bernstein was an associate with the New York law firm of Battle Fowler, LLP.
Mr. Bernstein received his BA from the University of Vermont and his JD from Boston University School of Law. He is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), Urban Land Institute (ULI), and the Real Estate Roundtable. Mr. Bernstein is also a member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO), where he is the chairman of the Real Estate Network. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of BRT Realty (NYSE:BRT).