GLOBAL – Aberdeen, AEW, Aviva Investors, Blue Sky Group, Cushman & Wakefield, IVG, Pramerica, Rockspring, Threadneedle

Aberdeen Asset Management – Joining after a decade at Schroders Property Investment Management, Dimme Lucassen has been named fund manager within Aberdeen’s property multi-manager team. Working from the company’s Amsterdam offices, he replaces Karin Koks as lead fund manager on its euro-zone fund of funds following Koks’ recent promotion to head of global mandates.

AEW EuropeSimon Blaxland joins as executive director for its private equity real estate team.  He has previously worked at GE Real Estate and Goldman Sachs and most recently was managing partner at Expoor Group.

Aviva InvestorsJames Tarry, who departed Cordea Savills at the end of last year after less than 12 months at the company, has been hired as fund manager for real estate debt. In his role, he will oversee investment in senior debt.

Blue Sky GroupRobbert Staal has joined the pension provider responsible for the three pension funds of airline KLM. Staal, who prior to his departure in December had spent six years at CBRE Global Investors, will be the provider’s real estate fund manager. Since 1995, he has worked at insurer Nationale-Nederlanden, Ernst & Young and ING Real Estate Investment Managers.

Cushman & WakefieldRahsan Cebe is stepping down as head of the group’s Turkish business, with Togrul Gönden joining from Jones Lang LaSalle’s Russian business to become managing partner. Previously head of retail property and asset management at JLL, he has worked in Germany and Russia and studied in Spain and the US. Additionally, Tugra Gönden has been named head of office and industrial property, joining from JLL’s Turkish business, where he was director for commercial markers.

IVG Immobilien – The German company has announced details of its reorganisation, naming new regional heads as part of the move. As a result, Marlene Akerberg will head up the company’s Helsinki branch in addition to her current responsibilities for its Stockholm office, assuming overall responsibility for North Europe. South-east Europe – consisting of the Milan and Budapest offices and covering Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Austria – will be overseen by Vienna office head Herwig Teufelsdorfer. Christopher Linney will manage South-west Europe – consisting the Madrid and Lisbon offices – from his current base in Paris. Benelux countries are to be the responsibility of Bernhard Veithen, and David Gibson will retain responsibility for the UK, with a similar arrangement for the Polish market and Warsaw branch head Maciej Zajdel. In its home market, IVG will divide the country into the three regions of north, central and south, headed by Lars Flechsig, Wolfgang Winkler-Sümnick and Michael Wolschon, respectively.

Pramerica Real EstateSebastiano Ferrante is to replace Georg von Werz as head of Pramerica’s German business, following von Werz’s retirement at the end of last year. Ferrante joins from Tishman-Speyer, where he was co-country head for Germany. In his new role, he will report to global chief operating officer Eric Adler and sit on the company’s European executive committee.  

Rockspring Property Investment ManagersAllen Chilten has joined from Credit Suisse, where he was responsible for client services across Europe. At Rockspring, he will work within the company’s EMEA investor relations team.

ThreadneedleJames Allum joins as client relationship director. Previously, Allum held a similar role at Aviva Investors and has also worked at Henderson Global Investors. He will report to global head of client service Andrew Nicoll.

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