Justin Hutchens

Executive VP of Senior Housing & Chief Investment Officer, Ventas

Search every verified Justin Hutchens interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. J. Justin Hutchens, Executive Vice President of Senior Housing and Chief Investment Officer at Ventas, discussed the company's second-quarter 2021 performance and outlook during an August 2021 earnings call. He noted that senior housing occupancy saw a gain of approximately 75 basis points in July, contributing to five consecutive months of occupancy growth, though he cautioned that the recovery would not be a straight line given uncertainties related to the Delta variant. Hutchens also addressed the company's strategy regarding its relationship with Atria, stating that Ventas valued the growth in Atria's platform but maintained flexibility in its management contracts to adjust diversification among managers over time. He described the company's approach as focusing on "the right markets with the right asset and the right operator," and expressed confidence that operating margins could approach pre-pandemic levels as occupancy recovers. In an earlier 2014 interview, Hutchens, then CEO and President of National Health Investors (NHI), discussed his efforts to diversify the company's portfolio. He stated that upon joining NHI, approximately 80% of revenue was tied to skilled nursing and a single tenant, and that diversification into private-pay senior living assets was undertaken to attract institutional investors and ensure a reliable income stream. Hutchens also shared his initial skepticism toward RIDEA joint venture structures, citing concerns about exposing a REIT to operating downside risk, though he noted that a partnership with Bickford Senior Living had proven successful. He emphasized NHI's selective investment approach, prioritizing high-quality assets and experienced operators over sheer deal volume.