At Santos Holdings, leadership isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the foundation of everything we do. And no one embodies that better than our CEO, Henry Russell.
Born and raised in Baltimore, Henry’s path wasn’t a typical one. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he also played football, Henry went on to serve as an officer in the U.S. Navy. Over the course of six intense years, he completed four deployments, primarily in Iraq, where he led missions on rivers and lakes in one of the most volatile regions of the world.
But his time in the military wasn’t just about combat—it was a crash course in leadership, resilience, and decision-making under pressure. Those formative years would shape everything that came next.
After completing his military service, Henry pivoted to finance, gaining experience at a major financial firm before deciding to take a leap of faith into entrepreneurship. That leap landed him in the world of commercial real estate, where he found a niche in value-add multifamily properties, particularly in San Diego.
Driven by a vision for impact, Henry partnered with Richard Du to launch Santos Holdings—a company now expanding into New York, bringing its mission-driven mindset and people-first philosophy to one of the world’s most competitive markets.
In our latest video, Henry shares his inspiring journey from military service to real estate, the challenges he’s faced, and the values that drive him and Santos Holdings forward. It’s a story of transformation, ambition, and a deep commitment to building not just properties—but a better future.
Watch the full story now and see how purpose, discipline, and vision come together at Santos Holdings.