Debra Barbanel

Deb Barbanel leads the Global Real Estate Practice and she is a member of the Board & CEO Practice, and Financial Officers Practice. Based in Los Angeles and New York, Deb works across the financial services spectrum to identify CEOs, COOs, CFOs and other senior-level executives particularly within investments and development for public and private real estate companies, and financial services companies. Deb leverages her in-depth knowledge and extensive experience across all aspects of real estate to bring her clients senior leadership solutions.

Deb joined RRA from Ferguson Partners, a boutique executive search and professional services firm dedicated to the real estate and related financial services industry. She was Vice Chairman and focused on recruiting senior executives to public and private real estate and financial services firms. Concurrently, she served as Senior Managing Director of FPL Advisory Group where she oversaw the firm's West Coast office and participated in major compensation consulting and finance engagements. Prior, Deb was a Senior Partner of Pircher, Nichols & Meeks, which specializes in real estate law. During various stages of her tenure there, she was a member of the firm's Management Committee led business development, recruiting and personnel.

Deb has been a member of the Advisory Board of Watt Companies, a diversified real estate company. She is involved in non-profit activities, serving on the board of the Children’s Burn Foundation, and prior, on the Evergreen Community School Board. Deb is also a council member of the Urban Land Institute.

Deb received her B.A., magna cum laude, from St. Mary's College of Notre Dame and her J.D., cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law. She served as Notes and Comment Editor of the San Diego Law Review. Having lived in Madrid, she is conversant in Spanish.