In March 2026, IREI began interviewing people across 11 different property types to share their insights and outlooks on asset management in a video series titled Asset Management In Focus.
In the sixth installment of this series, Chase McWhorter, managing director, Americas, at Institutional Real Estate, Inc., interviewed Martha Kelley, managing director at Bain Capital Real Estate. Kelley offered an in-depth look at how retail asset management has evolved into a more integrated and technology-driven discipline. She defined asset management as owning the business plan and relentlessly driving asset-level performance through leasing, expense management, and capital decisions — noting that at Bain Capital, asset management and acquisitions work together from day one rather than in silos. Kelley highlighted the growing importance of consumer experience in open-air retail, emphasizing foot traffic, dwell time and tenant mix as key performance drivers.
Kelley also showca
