Charles Spetka

Charles Spetka is Head of the Middle East at Fortress Investment Group, leading all operations from the firm's newly established Abu Dhabi office in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Based in the UAE for the past five years, Mr. Spetka brings over 20 years of experience in investment management and real estate finance. As Head of the Middle East, Mr. Spetka oversees growth and operations, with an emphasis on expanding investment activities and capital-raising efforts across the region.

Mr. Spetka is also Executive Chairman of Mammoth Freighters LLC and Aspire MRO, both Fortress portfolio companies. He previously held a variety of roles at Fortress, including seven years based in London as a senior investment professional focused on distressed debt and NPLs. Prior to joining Fortress in 2013, Mr. Spetka was a Partner and CEO and on the Board of CW Financial Services, a vertically integrated CRE debt originator, servicer, special servicer, and registered investment manager.

Mr. Spetka joined CW Financial Services in 2003 and established its special servicing and fund management business. Earlier in his career, he was a seven-year veteran of GMAC Commercial Mortgage Corporation, where he served as the Managing Director and founder of the Real Estate Debt Investment Group and GIA (a registered investment advisor). Prior to joining GMAC, Mr. Spetka traded commercial real estate whole loans and securities at Goldman Sachs.

Career History

• Head of Middle East, Fortress Investment Group (rejoined May 2025)
• Senior Investment Professional focused on distressed debt and NPLs at Fortress, based in London (7 years)
• Partner, CEO and Board Member, CW Financial Services (2013-joined Fortress; established 2003)
• Managing Director and Founder, Real Estate Debt Investment Group, GMAC Commercial Mortgage Corporation (7 years)
• Trader, Goldman Sachs (commercial real estate whole loans and securities)

Mr. Spetka received an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina and a B.S. from Penn State University.

What Charles Spetka could bring to Head of Middle East at Fortress Investment: His extensive experience in distressed debt, commercial real estate finance, and fund management—combined with seven years of regional market knowledge and current residence in the UAE—positions him to rapidly build Fortress's investment platform in the Gulf. His track record establishing and scaling servicing operations at CW Financial Services and his institutional relationships from his London tenure suggest he can effectively drive both capital-raising and deal origination in high-growth Middle Eastern markets during a period of significant economic diversification in the region.