GLOBAL – Bouwinvest, GSW Immobilien, Catella Asset Management, Canada Pensions Plan, Ernst & Young, Centuria Property Funds, Alterra Vastgoed
Bouwinvest – Cathelijne Martin has been appointed senior portfolio manager at the €6bn property investment company, for non-listed property funds in Europe and the US. As corporate lawyer, Martin has advised Bouwinvest on acquisitions and due diligence during the past four years. Bouwinvest has also appointed Marjon Copier as manager of non-listed real estate for Asia-Pacific. Until now, Copier has been a portfolio manager at Syntrus Achmea, where she was responsible for investments in a non-listed fund of funds in Asia. Bouwinvest said it aimed to double its current investments in the region to 20% of its €2bn international portfolio.
GSW Immobilien – Jörg Schwagenscheidt has left the management board of the €3.3bn German property firm. He has been jointly responsible for the company's operational business, as well as for its strategy, and process-related and organisational realignment since 2006. Together with Andreas Segal, Schwagenscheidt has been leading GSW after its newly appointed chief executive Bernd Kottmann resigned last June, as a result of a PGGM-led shareholder revolt following an opaque appointment process.
Catella Asset Management – François Brisset has left DTZ Asset Management, the firm he co-founded in 1999, to join Catella and set up an asset management arm in France. Catella, a Swedish listed real estate group, will set up its asset management business to focus on asset and property management for institutional investors in both France and abroad. Run by Brisset, it will be AIFMD compliant, using OPCIs for tax-efficient investment.
CPPIB – Ed Cass has been appointed the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board senior vice-president and chief investment strategist. The investment management arm of the $193bn (€142bn) fund appointed Cass to manage overall fund investment strategy as well as chair the investment planning committee. He is currently vice-president and head of global tactical asset allocation for public markets. Before joining the in-house manager, he was managing director and co-CIO at Fortress Investment Group.
Ernst & Young – Steve Silen has joined the accountancy’s construction and real estate advisory service practice. Based in California, Silen will lead the division’s corporate real estate advisory business for Western US. Silen leaves a similar position at rival KPMG while also working in-house for several pharmaceutical and energy firms as a facilities manager.
Centuria Property Funds – Grant McFarlane has been appointed senior facilities manager for the property management company, leaving a facility management role at Knight Frank, where he was responsible for managing 8 Central Avenue, a technology park. Centura recently settled a 50% stake in the park, leading to the appointment.
Alterra Vastgoed – René Kottman, the supervisory chairman of €1.7bn property fund Alterra Vastgoed, has announced his resignation during the firm's AGM on 17 April. He said he wanted to scale down the number of supervisory roles. Recently, Kottman resigned as supervisory chair of insurer Delta Lloyd prematurely. On 1 January, he was succeeded by Jean Frijns, the former CIO of the €300bn pension fund ABP, and professor of asset management at Amsterdam University.
