Alex Osborne

I’m part of the International Investments team, where we focus on sourcing, underwriting and executing deals across Europe. The work spans a wide range – from sale-leasebacks in Scandinavia to build-to-suit projects in Spain – so no two deals are exactly the same.

We’re a small team without strict geographic specialization, which means we all navigate different languages, jurisdictions and deal-specific challenges. It can be complex at times, but that variety is also what makes the role so engaging.

Describe your career journey.

Before joining W. P. Carey, I spent about five years in investment banking. I began in a graduate program where I rotated across three different teams, but Leveraged Finance stood out the most. The work – focused on debt financing for private equity-backed acquisitions – drew me in because of the complexity and attention to detail required at the riskier end of the credit spectrum. I later moved to another bank to focus on Leveraged Finance full time.

One challenge with Leveraged Finance is how sensitive it is to market conditions. When macroeconomic or geopolitical events arise, those markets are often the first to shut down. Over time, I found myself looking for something more stable – without stepping too far away from the skills I’d built.

When a recruiter reached out about W. P. Carey, I didn’t have much experience with net lease, but I decided to explore the opportunity – the rest is history! The role turned out to be a perfect blend of credit analysis and real estate – an ideal fit for my background, as many of the transactions I look at now are with the same private-equity backed companies from my Leveraged Finance days. It’s not the path I would have predicted for myself five years earlier, but I’m very glad I made the move!

What’s the best part about WPC?

At W. P. Carey, people are always willing to step up and help where needed. There’s a shared commitment to the bigger picture, without rigid role boundaries getting in the way. Coming from larger organizations, it’s refreshing to be part of a firm that prioritizes collective goals over hierarchy. While we’re a large company in terms of AUM, we operate with a lean team – and everyone is focused on getting things done, from top to bottom.

What do you think it takes to succeed at WPC?

At W. P. Carey, two things really drive success: curiosity and strong relationships. Coming in with a willingness to learn – and not being afraid to ask “why” – helps keep that spark alive. While technical ability is important, it’s the personal connections you build that make the biggest difference. Humility and respect define how we work together, and that creates a close-knit culture that supports everything we accomplish.