# Alexander Shing

> Alexander Shing is the founder, chairman and CEO of Cottonwood Group, a Los Angeles-based real estate private equity firm established in 2012. An MIT economics graduate and former TISCO Financial Group vice chairman, he has led Cottonwood’s development and investment work, including EchelonSeaport in Boston and a real estate special situations strategy that closed with $1 billion in commitments in August 2025.

- **Role:** Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Cottonwood Group
- **Organizations:** Cottonwood Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Economics Visiting Committee, TISCO Financial Group (former vice chairman)
- **Nationality:** New Zealander (listed as New Zealand in TISCO’s 2020 director disclosure)
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- **Known for:** Founded Cottonwood Group in 2012., Led Cottonwood through its EchelonSeaport development in Boston., Cottonwood’s Real Estate Special Situations Strategy reached $1 billion in commitments at its August 31, 2025 final close.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2012** — Worked in software in Boston, then moved into private equity; dates are not specified in the interview.
- **2008** — Joined the TISCO Financial Group board in September.
- **2010** — Began serving as TISCO Financial Group vice chairman, according to its 2020 disclosure.
- **2012** — Founded Cottonwood Group; current official founding year.
- **2015** — Cottonwood acquired Seaport Square development parcels for almost $120 million.
- **2018** — Spoke at the topping-off of the first EchelonSeaport tower.
- **2019** — Began MIT Economics committee service, according to TISCO’s 2020 disclosure.
- **2023** — Launched Cottonwood’s Real Estate Special Situations Strategy.
- **2025** — Strategy closed with $1 billion in commitments on August 31; named to LA500.
- **2026** — Cottonwood supplied $122 million financing for Bunker Hill Building F through its Labor & Housing Initiative; Shing appeared on LA500 again.

## Achievements

- Founded Cottonwood Group in 2012.
- Led Cottonwood through its EchelonSeaport development in Boston.
- Cottonwood’s Real Estate Special Situations Strategy reached $1 billion in commitments at its August 31, 2025 final close.
- Named to the Los Angeles Business Journal LA500 in 2025 and 2026.
- Endowed graduate and postdoctoral fellowships at MIT Sloan and MIT Economics, according to his official biography.

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — Named to the LA500 for the second consecutive year.
- **2026-04** — Cottonwood announced $122 million in preferential financing for Bunker Hill Building F; the April 28 groundbreaking celebrated a planned 266-unit mixed-income building.
- **2025-09** — Cottonwood announced that its Special Situations Strategy had closed at $1 billion on August 31, 2025.

## Links

- Website: https://cottonwoodmgmt.com/about-us/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/alexander-shing
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-20