Robert Karnes is Global Head of Real Estate Debt for BlackRock Real Assets and is a member of the Real Estate Management Committee. Mr. Karnes is responsible for the strategy, investment, and portfolio management of real estate debt investments globally.

Prior to joining BlackRock in 2011, he was chief investment officer and partner of Hillenbrand Partners, directing deal sourcing, investment, and portfolio management activities for the firm's high yield real estate debt portfolio. From 1998-2006, he was executive director of Morgan Stanley, where he oversaw real estate investment and portfolio management activities for the firm's proprietary, fixed-income distressed debt business in Europe and Asia. Previously, Mr. Karnes was first vice president of First Chicago Capital Corporation, a leading buyer of subordinate CMBS and high yield real estate debt. Mr. Karnes also has experience in project and construction finance, and began his career in real estate debt finance and investment.

Mr. Karnes earned a BBA degree from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA degree from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He is a member of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council and the Urban Land Institute.