Our Leadership
Our founders combine more than 50 years of real estate experience, overseeing investments exceeding $5 billion in asset value and more than 75 million square feet across leading institutional platforms.
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Armel Kitieu, MBA, CFA
Armel Kitieu, MBA, CFA
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Armel brings over two decades of global investment experience across public and private real estate markets.
Prior to co-founding Makala Partners, Armel held senior investment and portfolio management roles at Lionstone Investments and MM Properties, overseeing institutional strategies across core, value-add, pre-development, and development investments.
Earlier in his career, he served as a portfolio manager for a Canadian mutual fund, earning multiple Lipper Awards for risk-adjusted performance, and worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company. He holds an MBA from The Wharton School and a Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University. Armel is based in Houston, Texas
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Jacqueline Byrd
Jacqueline Byrd
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Jacqueline brings more than 30 years of institutional real estate operations and asset management leadership. Her experience spans public REITs, private equity platforms, and advisory services.
Prior to co-founding Makala Partners, she led asset management and operations at Lionstone Investments and previously served as Senior Vice President at LXP Industrial Trust, overseeing its national industrial portfolio. She has also held senior leadership roles with Link Logistics (Blackstone) and DCT Industrial.
Jacqueline holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from LeTourneau University and earned the Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Greater Dallas and was Board President from 2022–2023. Jacqueline is based in Dallas, Texas.
ADDRESS
1334 Brittmoore Road,
Suite 1000B,
Houston, Texas 77043
TEL:
832-408-0851