Rajee C. Harris
Chief Operating Officer of the Real Estate Operating Company Investments, Principal Real Estate Investors

Rajee C. Harris is the Chief Operating Officer of the Real Estate Operating Company Investments at Principal Real Estate Investors, a top-10 global real estate manager. He is responsible for providing strategic and tactical support of the real estate operating company (REOC) business. He is closely involved in underwriting, structuring, closing, financing and managing North America and Europe REOC and co-GP investment opportunities, and serves as the primary operational and financial liaison between Principal, its clients, and senior management teams of the REOCs.

He re-joined Principal in 2021 after leaving the company in 2018 to pursue a dual business and legal role with Partners Enterprise Capital (PEC), a private equity real estate investment management firm with more than $15 billion in gross assets under management. As a Managing Director at PEC, he served on the Strategic Initiatives Group where he co-led enterprise risk management efforts including climate change resiliency, assisted with the legal structuring and documentation of new and existing REOC partnerships, was responsible for managing board governance for PEC’s eight REOCs under management, and led the firm’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Rajee started his career at Principal in 2013 as a member of the legal department. In his role as legal counsel, he supported numerous businesses within Principal practicing in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, contract procurement, and private equity real estate. Rajee has a Juris Doctor from Drake University Law School and an MBA and Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Management and Marketing from Drake University. Rajee currently serves on the Drake Law School Board of Counselors and the Board of Directors for Animal Rescue League of Iowa.