A new leadership appointment at Ventas signals the company’s continued focus on one of the fastest-growing areas of healthcare real estate.
Ventas announced that Andrew L. Wattula will join the company in August 2026 as Executive Vice President, Outpatient Medical & Research, and Chief Executive Officer of Lillibridge Healthcare Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ventas. The appointment brings a seasoned real estate executive to a business that operates at the intersection of medicine, research, and universities.
Veteran Executive Joins Ventas
Wattula will lead Ventas’ outpatient medical and research portfolio, a key segment of the company’s healthcare real estate platform. In his new role, he will focus on driving operational excellence and maximizing portfolio performance.
He will report directly to Ventas Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Debra A. Cafaro.
Wattula succeeds Peter J. Bulgarelli, who retired from the company in May 2026 after helping build and lead the outpatient medical and research business. Announcing the appointment, Cafaro said Wattula brings a combination of strong leadership, operational discipline, real estate expertise, and a client-focused approach. She noted that his experience will support the company’s efforts to deliver value to shareholders while strengthening its portfolio.
More Than Two Decades of Real Estate Experience
Wattula joins Ventas from Hudson Pacific Properties, where he served as Chief Operating Officer. In that role, he oversaw a 16.5 million-square-foot office and retail portfolio serving more than 1,000 tenants.
His responsibilities included operations, leasing, development, acquisitions, and strategic initiatives across the company’s portfolio. Before joining Hudson Pacific Properties, Wattula held leadership positions at Beacon Capital Partners and Hines. Throughout his career, he has built extensive experience in commercial real estate operations, portfolio management, and business strategy.
Military Service and Academic Background
Before entering the real estate industry, Wattula served as a Naval Flight Officer in the United States Navy. During his military career, he led mission-critical teams and managed operations, training, budgets, and personnel development. He also served overseas as a mission commander and earned the Navy Air Medal for his service.
Wattula graduated with honors from Vanderbilt University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He later received an MBA from Harvard Business School. In addition to his professional responsibilities, he serves on the Leadership Council of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and supports initiatives focused on pediatric pulmonary research and healthcare.
Strengthening a Major Healthcare Real Estate Platform
Ventas is one of the largest healthcare real estate investment trusts in North America. The company owns more than 1,400 properties across North America and the United Kingdom, including senior housing communities, outpatient medical buildings, research centers, and other healthcare-related facilities.
The appointment of Wattula reflects Ventas’ commitment to strengthening its outpatient medical and research business as healthcare systems, universities, and research organizations continue to expand their demand for specialized real estate. With decades of leadership experience in real estate and operations, Wattula is set to play an important role in guiding the next phase of growth for this strategic segment of Ventas’ portfolio.
