EUROPE – Gareth Lewis, long-standing finance director at the European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA) is to step down at the end of September.
Lewis, who in his five years at the association was responsible for policy and regulation around financial markets and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), will depart after EPRA’s annual conference in Paris.
His replacement will be announced in due time, the association told IP Real Estate.
Prior to joining EPRA in May 2008, Lewis worked at the British Property Federation focusing on policy and investment related issues and was involved in lobby work to bring about the launch of a UK REIT regime, participating in the OECD’s industry working group on REITs at the time.
He started his career at Ernst & Young in 1997 after studying at the University of Warwick and currently is an advisory board member for the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark.
EPRA chief executive Philip Charls praised Lewis for his work while at the association.
"Gareth's work has been widely appreciated by the most senior figures across the sector," he said. "His expertise in navigating regulation and capital market issues, bringing the industry together on complex projects, his professionalism and profound knowledge of the industry have proven of immense and lasting value to EPRA and its members."
Lewis added that he looked forward to taking on new challenges in future.