Carter Funds Names Deron Richens SVP of Internal Sales and Distribution

Carter Funds has appointed Deron Richens as senior vice president, internal sales and distribution, the Tampa-based alternative investment manager said this week.

Richens will lead internal sales across Carter Funds’ investment platform, which includes Aphorio Carter, Carter Exchange, and Carter Multifamily. The firm said he will focus on expanding distribution relationships across the broker-dealer and registered investment adviser channels.

Richens brings more than 25 years of distribution experience. He most recently served as senior vice president and head of internal sales at Bluerock Capital Markets from 2017 to 2025, where he oversaw growth in sales and assets under management and led customer relationship management and sales process improvements for the distribution team.

Before Bluerock, Richens held a senior vice president, internal sales role at Griffin Capital Securities from 2012 to 2017, supporting capital raises for nontraded real estate investment funds and interval funds and leading sales training and data strategy initiatives. Earlier in his career, he held distribution leadership positions at MetLife Investors and AXA Distributors, with exposure to bank and annuity channels in domestic and international markets.

“Deron’s extensive leadership experience and proven ability to build and scale successful internal sales organizations make him an outstanding addition to Carter Funds,” said Gael Ragone, president of Carter Funds. “His deep understanding of distribution strategy, adviser engagement, and sales process optimization will be invaluable as we continue expanding our relationships across the broker-dealer and RIA channels while supporting financial professionals across the country.”

Richens holds a Bachelor of Science in finance, real estate, and law from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and maintains FINRA Series 7, 24, and 63 licenses.

Carter Funds manages a portfolio of approximately $3.4 billion in data centers, commercial properties, and multifamily real estate. The firm has acquired $4.4 billion of real estate over its history.

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