Heitman has promoted Jerry Ehlinger to replace Kathy Sandstrom as head of the company’s real estate securities business.

The $40bn (€34.3bn) real estate investment manager said Ehlinger, who has been appointed senior managing director, will also serve on the firm’s global management committee.

Ehlinger has been with Heitman for eight years. In the past five years, he’s led Heitman’s North American strategies and served as co-portfolio manager for the group’s global strategies.

Maury Tognarelli, the CEO of Heitman, said: “He [Ehlinger] has helped develop a strong team of professionals and improve the operating and investment environment in our North American and Global platform.

”The team is well prepared for this next step in the organization’s evolution.”

Heitman said senior managing director Sandstrom, who led Heitman’s global real estate securities platform for the past five years, will step down from her current role. She will continue to serve as an advisor to the securities business leadership team.

Over the course of her 22-year tenure at Heitman, Sandstrom held several roles at the firm, and previously led the North American client service and marketing group.