Merrick “Rick” Kleeman

Rick Kleeman is a founder and Managing Partner of Wheelock Street Capital (“Wheelock”), a real estate private equity firm established in 2008. Since its inception, Wheelock has raised seven funds comprising over $4 billion of equity capital and has acquired over 160 properties nationwide. Before founding Wheelock, Mr. Kleeman spent over 15 years at Starwood Capital Group, where he was one of the earliest partners and served as Senior Managing Director and Head of Acquisitions.

At Starwood, Mr. Kleeman was directly or indirectly involved in the majority of the firm’s investments, which comprised over 215 transactions within all major asset classes, across eight equity funds and totaling $6 billion in institutional capital commitments. Mr. Kleeman led the acquisition of Westin Hotels & Resorts, National and American Golf, and Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts in collaboration with Starwood Hotels, helped lead the acquisition of ITT Sheraton, and led the formation of Starwood Land Ventures and the growth of Troon Golf. Mr. Kleeman serves on the Boards of the Norwalk Open Doors Shelter, The Waterside School in Stamford, CT and is a member of the President’s Leadership Council of Dartmouth College. Mr. Kleeman received a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar. He is the proud father of three children, Amanda, Andrew and Serena.