People moves: Alan Patterson to lead research at China’s Gingko Tree

Gingko Tree Investment, Aquila Capital, Pictet Asset Management, BMO Real Estate Partners, Hermes Investment Management, Savills Investment Management, PGIM Real Estate, ULI Germany, Heleba Landesbank

Gingko Tree Investment — Alan Patterson has been hired by Chinese state-owned real estate and infrastructure firm Gingko Tree Investment as head of research and strategy. Patterson was global head of research and strategy at AXA Investment Managers–Real Assets for eight years until June 2016, and has subsequently been working as a consultant. He is based in London and will the real estate team at investment subsidiary of State Administration of Foreign Exchange of China.

Aquila Capital — Yasuhiro Odajima has been appointed by Aquila Capital as investment manager for energy and infrastructure in Asia-Pacific. He is based at the newly-opened office in Tokyo, which Aquila opened to support its expansion into the Japanese solar power market. Yasuhiro Odajima joins from Pictet Asset Management.

BMO Real Estate Partners — Matthew Howard has been appointed as director, property funds at the real estate arm of BMO Global Asset Management. He will be taking over from Julian Smith who will step down at the end of the year after 34 years in the business. Howard will take on responsibility for the Royal Sun Alliance Shareholders Fund, while supporting Richard Kirby in managing the F&C Commercial Property Trust. He joins after six years at Hermes Investment Management, most recently in the role of deputy fund manager for its UK build-to-rent fund.

Savills Investment Management — Benedict Lai has been appointed as research manager at Savills Investment Management. He previously worked at PGIM Real Estate. Lai will report to chief investment office Kiran Patel. 

ULI — Stephanie Baden has been appointed as the new executive director of the Urban Land Institute Germany. She will report to Lisette van Doorn, chief executive of ULI Europe. Baden was previously head of marketing and communications, real estate at Helaba Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen.