Former Cushman & Wakefield CEO Chuck Scott has launched a venture-capital firm with two other commercial real estate industry leaders.

Ruck Lane focuses on real estate investments. The Toronto-based company aims to redefine venture capital in real estate through a model that combines capital investment with strategic leadership.

Scott is serving as the company’s CEO. He was formerly Cushman’s CEO for Canada and Latin America.

He co-founded Ruck Lane with Mark Barr, who is chairing the firm and has more than 30 years in structured finance and mergers and acquisitions, and partner Terry Wallace, co-founder of Penalta Group. Wallace has overseen about $1 billion worth of construction projects totalling more than 10 million square feet.

“We built Ruck Lane to be a new, real estate-obsessed venture capital group setting a new standard of excellence,” said Scott, who also formerly headed Cushman’s business in Latin America.

“We are more than investors; we’re true partners with a unique residency model that allows us to take meaningful positions in the companies we invest in, providing capital, hands-on leadership, and strategic guidance.”

In conjunction with its launch, Ruck Lane has formed a global advisory board:

• Anne Morash – former senior vice president of multi-residential at GWL Realty Advisors.
• John Forrester – chair of real estate development at Innovo Group and former CEO and board member of Cushman & Wakefield.
• Andrew Garrett – current chief investment officer of Spotlight Development and former senior principal of real estate at the Investment Management Corporation of Ontario.
• Paul Finkbeiner – former executive vice-president and global head of real estate at Great West Life.

Ruck Lane’s active portfolio includes interests in Black Dog Development, which focuses on commercial, industrial, and residential developments; Penalta, a leader in general contracting and construction management; and Protego Whole Home Solutions, a high-end residential concierge and property management firm.

Scott left Cushman in 2023 to pursue other interests. As a result, Cushman promoted Allison Marsales to lead its Canadian brokerage segment.

Pictured: Chuck Scott

Photo: Courtesy of S+C Communications