Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P. (HFF), a Los Angeles-based provider of commercial real estate and capital markets services, announced this week that Christopher Simon is the company’s new managing director of its debt placement group.

A 13-year veteran of commercial real estate, Simon’s new role will focus on originating debt, equity, and structured finance transactions throughout the western United States.

“HFF Los Angeles is excited to welcome Chris on board,” said Paul Brindley, senior managing director and head of HFF’s Los Angeles office. “He has extensive experience in the debt placement world and will certainly be an asset to our existing team.”

Simon is former CFO and principal at DS Ventures, LLC, where he was responsible for structuring all senior debt, mezzanine debt, and equity for the firm, as well as overseeing the structuring and underwriting for all acquisitions.

He was also a senior investment officer at Merrill Lynch Capital in Los Angeles. Simon, who began his career in real estate at Heller Real Estate Financial Services in New York, graduated from New York University with an MS in real estate and from Emory University with a BA in history.