PACE Loan Group announced the appointment of Kenneth Sacco as chief financial officer, a move aimed at strengthening the lender’s position in the commercial property assessed clean energy (C‑PACE) market.
Veteran finance executive steps into CFO role
Prior to joining the Minneapolis‑based firm, Sacco accumulated more than $10 billion in advisory transactions and oversaw $30 billion in debt financings across a commercial real‑estate career. His most recent corporate finance assignments were senior roles at Netflix and Life Time, where he managed treasury functions and capital‑raising activities.
“We were looking for a strategic finance leader who could help guide PLG through this next stage of growth,” said CEO Rafi Golberstein. “Ken brings a rare skill set to this seat: real institutional capital markets experience paired with deep commercial real estate expertise.” The statement reflects PLG’s intent to scale its finance and capital‑markets operations as the C‑PACE sector expands.
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Career path that blends consulting, banking and brokerage
Sacco began his professional life as a management consultant with the real‑estate advisory divisions of Ernst & Young and KPMG. He later moved into investment banking, first at Lehman Brothers in New York and then at Barclays Capital in London, gaining exposure to large‑scale financing structures.
Transitioning to the brokerage side, he served as managing director at both CBRE and JLL, leading financial advisory practices that advised owners and developers on complex transactions. Those roles gave him a practical view of market forces that are now directly relevant to PLG’s growth strategy.
In addition to his professional credentials, Sacco holds a BBA from Miami University, an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, and a Master of Corporate Real Estate designation from CoreNet Global. He also served in the United States Marine Corps as part of an infantry weapons company.
His statement to the press highlighted the alignment between his background and PLG’s focus: “C‑PACE brings together my background in complex financial structuring and my passion for commercial real estate. PLG is entering the current phase of industry growth from a position of strength.” He also noted that the company’s fully in‑house operating model, backed by AB CarVal, gives it an edge over many competitors.
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Since launching its C‑PACE activities, PLG has become a notable player, highlighted by a $45.5 million loan in January 2026 that helped recapitalize the Island Waterpark at Showboat project in Atlantic City. That deal marked the first transaction under New Jersey’s newly introduced program, positioning the lender as an early mover in a nascent financing niche.
The company’s strategy hinges on leveraging its in‑house model to streamline underwriting and servicing, a point Sacco emphasized as a competitive advantage. By keeping functions internal, PLG aims to reduce reliance on third‑party providers, potentially lowering costs and accelerating deal timelines.
Looking ahead, the firm expects to capitalize on the growing demand for energy‑efficient retrofits in commercial properties, a trend driven by both regulatory pressures and investor interest in sustainability. The CFO’s role will likely involve managing capital‑market fluctuations while preserving the firm’s ability to fund large‑scale projects across diverse regions.
