Christopher Merrill (businessman)

Christopher Merril
Born1971 (age 53–54)
Okinawa Island, Japan
Other namesTopher
Alma materRoanoke College, Cass business school
OccupationsReal estate investment manager, business executive
SpousePeyton Merrill
Children3

Christopher "Topher" Merrill (born 1971) is an American real estate investment manager and business executive who is the co-founder and Global CEO of Harrison Street Asset Management.[1][2][3] A real estate, infrastructure, and private credit investment management firm that he established with former Motorola Inc. chairman and CEO Chris Galvin and his brother Michael Galvin[4] in 2005.[5][6]

Early life and education

Merrill was born in Okinawa, Japan, in 1971, where his father was serving as a doctor in the Army.[1] Shortly after his birth the family returned to Illinois.[1] Merrill earned his BA in Economics from Roanoke College, where he played on the golf team,[7] and also worked part-time at a commercial bank.[8] He received his MBA from the Bayes Business School (formerly known as CASS School of Business) in London, England.[9]

Career

Merrill started his career at global real estate investment management firm Heitman, where he launched Heitman's first foreign investment fund,[10] and eventually became a partner and managing director. [2] 

After living in London for five years, Merrill returned to Chicago in 2005 to establish Harrison Street together with Chris Glavin and his brother Michael, who provided the seed money. In 2018, Colliers International Group Inc. (CIGI) purchased the Galvin's interests in Harrison Street.[11] In July 2025, Colliers announced that it would rebrand its entire investment management division as Harrison Street Asset Management and appointed Merrill as Global CEO, thereby making him the largest individual shareholder at the time.[12]

Personal life

Merrill and his wife, Peyton, are involved in various Chicago community efforts through their work with First Tee, PanCAN, and Rush Hospital.[13] They have three children together.[14] Merrill is also known by his nickname, “Topher”.[15][16]

Board positions

  • Merrill serves as Vice Chair on the board of the Pension Real Estate Association (“PREA”)[17]
  • Merrill is also on the boards of Rush University Medical Board (Facilities Committee), TCU Center for Real Estate, Roanoke College, the real estate advisory boards of Gore Creek and Kinship Capital, Salisbury School.[18][19] He also served on the boards of the University of Wisconsin[20] and Chicago Botanic Garden.[21]
  • He is a Trustee of the First Tee and on the board of the Chicago Chapter. [22]
  • Merrill is a member of YPO, Economic Club of Chicago and Chicago Commonwealth Club[23] and the Real Estate Roundtable.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b c "News & Announcements". Horatio Alger. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  2. ^ a b "Roanoke College Board of Trustees welcomes new member". www.roanoke.edu. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  3. ^ "Colliers rebrands investment management division as Harrison Street Asset Management". Institutional Real Estate, Inc. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  4. ^ "Michael P. Galvin". www.csis.org. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  5. ^ "Galvins cash out of Harrison Street in $550 million deal". Crain's Chicago Business. 2018-05-14. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  6. ^ Vardi, Nathan. "Real Estate For The Ages". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  7. ^ "Roanoke College Board of Trustees welcomes new member". www.roanoke.edu. Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  8. ^ "News & Announcements". Horatio Alger. Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  9. ^ "News & Announcements". Horatio Alger. Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  10. ^ "Head of Harrison Street taking a contrarian view". Crain's Chicago Business. 2007-03-29. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  11. ^ "Colliers International acquires controling stake in Harrison Street Real Estate – REJournals". rejournals.com. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  12. ^ "Colliers rebrands and reorganizes investment management division".
  13. ^ haacommunications (2025-01-28). "Christopher Merrill, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Harrison Street, to Receive Prestigious 2025 Horatio Alger Award". Horatio Alger. Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  14. ^ "News & Announcements". Horatio Alger. Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  15. ^ "Roanoke College Board of Trustees welcomes new member". www.roanoke.edu. Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  16. ^ "Topher Merrill, Harrison Street Real Estate Capital LLC: Profile and Biography". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  17. ^ Association, Pension Real Estate. "Board of Directors". Pension Real Estate Association. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  18. ^ "Christopher Merrill, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO, Harrison Street / Kinship Capital". www.kinshipcapital.com. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  19. ^ "Roanoke College Board of Trustees welcomes new member". www.roanoke.edu. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  20. ^ "New Board Member Profile: Christopher Merrill, Chairman and CEO of Harrison Street Capital". Wisconsin School of Business. October 3, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "Board of Directors | Chicago Botanic Garden". www.chicagobotanic.org. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  22. ^ "Board of Governors". First Tee – Greater Chicago. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  23. ^ "Christopher Merrill, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO, Harrison Street / Kinship Capital". www.kinshipcapital.com. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  24. ^ "Dynamic Policy for Evolving Needs" (PDF). p. 47. Retrieved November 6, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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