Team

 

The Team

Wessex Capital Investments is led by a proven management team with more than three decades of expertise and success in health care, real estate, structured finance, restructurings, and value-add asset management. We attract talented professionals who are guided by integrity and experience. Our firm fosters a collaborative environment in which time-tested principles are combined with current analytical tools to create investment strategies that serve our clients’ needs.
James R. Smith

James R. Smith

Chairman and CEO
JAMES R. SMITH, founder and Chairman of Wessex Capital, has over 30 years of experience in the development and operation of senior housing facilities. Over the years, Jim has strategically led Wessex Capital in its growth and management of over $750 million in assets. His ability to work through complex structures while creating value has allowed him to assemble a diverse portfolio of high-quality assets that produce reliable and growing cash flows. He has focused on forming predictable, steadfast partnerships with financial institutions, development companies and operators to provide clients with a strong team capable of withstanding changing market conditions. Jim has extensive experience in reimbursement payor systems and is a recognized expert in Medicare and Medicaid and other long-term care issues. As a result, he frequently serves on national and state committees on reimbursement reform. He has served multiple terms on the Board of the Division of Medical Assistance for the Commonwealth of Virginia and Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors. Jim is currently serving on the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in Roanoke, Virginia and was the first independent Chairperson of this Board.

Rebecca Young

Rebecca Young

Chief Financial Officer
REBECCA YOUNG has worked with Wessex Capital in various roles since October 1997. She has over 15 years of experience in the financing, acquisition and divesture of senior living facilities. Rebecca’s most recent experience was as a partner in Meeks & Young CPA firm providing tax and consulting services to Wessex managed facilities. Rebecca is responsible for the ongoing accounting management of the company’s investments, including portfolio compliance, investor relations, execution of growth and tax strategies, and profit optimization.

Ben Adams

Ben Adams

Chief Investment Officer
BEN ADAMS, joined Harmony Senior Services and Wessex Capital Investments in August of 2023.  Prior to joining Harmony, Ben worked as a consultant with numerous senior housing operators and owners on a variety of operational and transactional matters.  After an 11-year real estate banking career, Ben spent 7 years at Sunrise Senior Living as a Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, responsible for numerous departments and growth initiatives of the company.  During his tenure, Sunrise experienced 2.5x enterprise valuation growth and Ben was personally responsible for more than $2B in real estate and corporate transactions.

John McCarthy

John McCarthy

Chief Technology Officer
JOHN McCARTHY, joined Wessex Capital Investments in July of 2023. John has over 35 years of experience and is a seasoned business leader in building and leading technology organizations. He has previously served in the roles of Chief Information Officer and Vice President of IT at both public and private companies. His diverse background includes business strategy, process re-engineering, project management, mergers and acquisitions, digital transformation, eCommerce, software development, systems and technology implementations, infrastructure, and cyber security. John graduated from The University of Rhode Island and holds both a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Computer Electrical Engineering.

Kirk Horsley

Kirk Horsley

Chief Legal Officer
KIRK HORSLEY, joined Wessex Capital Investments in December of 2023. A member of the South Carolina State Bar, Kirk practiced law for 8 years with a firm in Columbia, SC.  During his years of private practice, he developed extensive experience in real estate development and finance.  After private practice, Kirk served as Deputy General Counsel for a multi-state development and construction firm.  He has also served as a consultant and asset manager for global financial institutions, private equity firms, and regulatory agencies.  Throughout his career he has negotiated legal agreements governing hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of development and has overseen legal work for thousands of real estate transactions. Kirk earned his undergraduate degree in Speech Communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in Coral Gables, FL.

John Oakes

John Oakes

General Counsel
JOHN W. OAKES, II, joined Wessex Capital Investments in January of 2024. After graduating from Michigan State University College of Law in 2000, John has accumulated over 20 years of legal experience during his time employed a real estate and capital markets associate with such international firms as Troutman Pepper, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, LLP, and Allston & Bird, LLP; and during his time as General Counsel for such development companies as River Rock Capital Partners, LLC and Premier Land Liquidators, LLC. John gained an extensive background in the build-to-rent asset class and pioneered numerous build-to-rent acquisition, disposition, land development, and construction contracts for multiple $3-to-$60 million dollar projects. During the acquisitions and disposition of build-to-rent projects John’s skills were instrumental in negotiations for closings of multiple milliondollar debt facilities and construction loans necessary for financing projects and organizing, drafting, and facilitating operating and subscription agreements to procure respective equity partners and investors.

Wessex’s core team is supported by a well-established and comprehensive legal, accounting and tax team with the same level of expertise and success. This unique competitive advantage has proven successful in navigating matters in today’s complex legal environment and streamlining financial reporting, asset management and sophisticated tax strategies.