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Posted Jun 10, 2025

From warehouses to Wall Street: The rise of industrial real estate

In this episode of The Distribution, host Brandon Sedloff sits down with Franz Colloredo-Mansfeld, CEO and Chairman of Cabot Properties, for a sweeping conversation on the evolution of the logistics real estate sector. Franz shares his unconventional path into the industry, beginning with a background in history and investment banking, and reflects on the experiences that shaped his leadership at Cabot.

From Cabot’s early days as a small advisory firm to its current position managing $12 billion in assets across 13 offices worldwide, Franz unpacks the strategic decisions, market cycles, and global expansion efforts that defined the company’s growth. He also provides an in-depth look at the structural dynamics of logistics investing, public vs. private ownership models, and why Cabot remains committed to value creation through specialization.

They discuss:

  • How Franz’s early exposure to real estate and global finance shaped his leadership style
  • Why Cabot went public in the late 1990s and what they learned from it
  • The tailwinds driving institutional investment into logistics real estate
  • How Cabot has expanded internationally and adapted to global market nuances
  • Why logistics is increasingly seen as a core real estate allocation with enduring alpha potential

This is a valuable episode for investors, operators, and professionals curious about logistics real estate, private equity, and global platform building.