Christopher "Topher" Merrill

Christopher “Topher” Merrill was born in Okinawa, Japan, in 1971, where his father was serving as a doctor in the Army. Shortly after his birth, the family returned to Illinois. When Merrill was five, his parents divorced.

“My mother was a resilient, proud woman with quiet strength, a huge smile and an amazing heart—loving, supportive, and always instilling in me the belief that I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. My father valued education deeply, while my stepfather was entrepreneurial and introduced me to the possibilities of business. I took away something invaluable from each of them.”

Merrill describes his childhood as a happy one, filled with good friends, loving family members, but certainly some challenges coping with divorced parents. “I’ve always been driven by curiosity—wanting to understand how things work. I was never one to simply live in the moment; instead, I often felt an impatience to move forward, eager to turn the page to the next chapter of my life.”

At 17, his mother and stepfather divorced, forcing a sale of the family home. “It was a challenging time. I felt a strong responsibility to help support my mother, who was always there for me and was beginning to experience significant health issues.”

Through his mother’s guidance and relationships, Merrill secured an internship with a Chicago-based real estate investment firm, where he worked every summer during college. He attended Roanoke College, earning a degree in economics in 1993, while also working part-time at a commercial bank. Upon graduation, he joined the real estate investment firm full-time, seven days after graduation.

“I enjoyed my work and often raised my hand to try and get exposed to as many opportunities as possible,” Merrill recalls. After traveling through Central and Eastern Europe, he identified an opportunity in the region’s real estate market following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Seeing a gap in commercial space for businesses entering these markets, he proposed an expansion plan to the firm’s board. With their approval, Merrill and his wife relocated to London, where he launched the first real estate investment fund targeting Central Europe. While building this business, he also earned his MBA from City University of London at night. During this time his mother was struggling with her first of three battles with cancer.

In 2005, at the age of 34, Merrill decided to start his own business back in the United States. “I was so fortunate to have an amazing mentor, Christopher Galvin, the former Chairman & CEO of Motorola. My mother introduced me to him when I was a teenager, and we stayed in regular touch. The idea of Harrison Street was hatched on his porch, we became partners and set out on developing something quite new to the real estate investment market. Harrison Street was born, starting an amazing dream come true, partnering with a man who I had idolized for decades.”

Today, Harrison Street is a globally recognized real assets investment management firm with over 300 employees, operating in multiple countries with over $56 billion in assets under management. The firm is renowned for its investments in education, healthcare, life sciences, storage, digital infrastructure, and renewable energy sectors.

Harrison Street has been consistently recognized for its workplace culture, named one of the Best Places to Work in Money Management by Pensions & Investments in 2024, an honor it has received ten times since 2012. “One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that culture is everything in a business. My partners and I wanted to build a firm where employees feel valued, where they see their contributions making a real impact, and where loyalty and hard work are rewarded.”

Beyond business, Merrill is deeply committed to philanthropy and mentorship. He and his wife, Peyton, are actively involved in the Chicago community, supporting organizations such as First Tee, Rush Hospital, the Pancreas Cancer Network, and local schools. Through Harrison Street, he has championed initiatives that provide scholarships and internships to help young people pursue higher education and career opportunities. Merrill also serves on the Board of Trustees for Roanoke College and Salisbury School.

While passionate about business, Merrill’s greatest priority is his family. “Success, to me, is defined by the happiness and fulfillment of my family and colleagues. Peyton and I met in college, and we have three wonderful adult children. They are my greatest source of pride.”

Merrill enjoys mentoring young professionals and offers this advice to interns and associates at Harrison Street: “Work hard, find a mentor, listen more than you speak, and be patient in building your career.” For those facing adversity, he shares, “Every setback can be turned into an opportunity. Challenges build strength, courage, and resilience. We live in a country where we have the freedom to pursue our passions, so dream big and never give up.”

Education remains a core belief for Merrill. “It’s the great equalizer, which is why I’m so passionate about the Horatio Alger Association. Its scholarships empower young people to follow their dreams, and I encourage them to embrace this network of business leaders who are willing to help.”

Honored and humbled by his Horatio Alger Award, Merrill reflects, “This award recognizes hard work, perseverance, and integrity—values I deeply admire. My family and I are excited to embrace this organization and contribute to its mission.”