Ackerman & Co. Strengthens Capital Markets Platform

Commercial real estate veteran Charles Pledger joins Ackerman to lead new Investment Sales Division

Mar. 27, 2026 at 8:36am

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Ackerman & Co., a commercial real estate firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, has hired Charles Pledger, a veteran of the industry, to lead a new Investment Sales Division. The division will provide services across multiple asset types, including retail, medical-office, office, industrial and self-storage, and will play a key role in Ackerman's growing Capital Markets platform.

Why it matters

The expansion of Ackerman's Investment Sales Division is part of the firm's broader strategy to strengthen its Capital Markets platform, which provides clients with integrated solutions for investment sales, debt placement and equity sourcing. By aligning these services, the firm aims to offer clients a comprehensive advisory approach to efficiently deploy capital across key markets in the Southeast and beyond.

The details

The Investment Sales Division will be led by Charles Pledger, who joins Ackerman from Sands Investment Group. Pledger has more than 20 years of commercial real estate transaction expertise, and his prior roles include Managing Director at Newmark Knight Frank and Vice President at NAI Brannen Goddard. The Investment Sales team also includes several new additions, such as Nick Stockton, Ryan Ball, Thomas Allen Farr Jr., Craig Taylor, and W. Taylor Wagner, who bring expertise in various asset types.

  • Ackerman & Co. announced the hiring of Charles Pledger on March 27, 2026.

The players

Ackerman & Co.

A privately held, full-service commercial real estate firm focused on providing quality investment, brokerage, management and development services across the South. The company, founded in 1967, retains an expert team of 100 real estate professionals.

Charles Pledger

A commercial real estate veteran with more than 20 years of transaction expertise. He joins Ackerman & Co. to lead the firm's new Investment Sales Division.

Nick Stockton

A Senior Vice President at Ackerman & Co. who specializes in medical office and multi-tenant retail investment sales. He joins the firm from AiCRE Partners.

Ryan Ball

A Vice President at Ackerman & Co. who focuses on the sale of multi-tenant retail properties. He joins the firm from Sands Investment Group.

Thomas Allen Farr Jr.

A Vice President at Ackerman & Co. who specializes in industrial investment sales. He previously served as Senior Commercial Associate at Swartz Co. Commercial Real Estate.

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What they’re saying

“I'm looking forward to leading the growth of the firm's Investment Sales services. Our team will serve a wide range of investors, from private equity firms and family offices to high net-worth individuals and owner-users. We're building a team of property specialists who will take an integrated approach to investment services, helping connect investors to real estate opportunities while providing strategic guidance to maximize their return on investment.”

— Charles Pledger, Managing Director for Ackerman Brokerage

“We're thrilled that Charles has joined our team. He has already made significant strides in building our investment sales capabilities with the addition of a talented team. His extensive experience in investment transactions combined with his proven leadership will be instrumental as we continue to grow our platform and expand the services we provide to investors and property owners.”

— Leo Wiener, President of Ackerman Retail

The takeaway

Ackerman & Co.'s expansion of its Investment Sales Division is part of the firm's broader strategy to strengthen its Capital Markets platform, allowing it to offer clients a comprehensive advisory approach for investment sales, debt placement, and equity sourcing across key markets in the Southeast.