Oxford Properties, the global real estate arm of Canadian pension fund OMERS, has appointed Sara Queen to lead its US platform, which manages approximately $19bn (€16.2bn) of assets and accounts across equity and credit investments.
Queen, who joins the firm on 20 July as executive vice president, most recently served as head of real estate equity at MetLife Investment Management.
She will report directly to Eric Plesman, president and CEO of Oxford, and will serve on the firm’s global executive and investment committees.
With over three decades of US real estate experience across asset management, investment and operations, she also held senior leadership roles at Mapletree, Brookfield and Clarion Partners.
Queen currently serves on ULI’s global executive board and as a global governing trustee, as well as being involved in WX New York Women Executives in Real Estate.
She is a member of the Vestry of Trinity Church NYC, participating in its investment committee. Additionally, she recently served as the board chair for Solar One, an organisation dedicated to creating more sustainable and resilient urban environments.
Plesman said: “The US represents Oxford’s largest investment market, so it was absolutely essential for us to find a leader with a track record as impressive as Sara Queen’s. What truly stood out in Sara is not only her cultural fit, but her ability to lead people to help drive performance.
“Her breadth of experience, deep asset management, operational, development and investment expertise, as well as a proven ability to navigate through market cycles, make her the right person to lead our team and US platform into its next chapter.”
Queen said: “Oxford has built an exceptional US platform, supported by a strategic investment mindset, landmark development projects and a strong operational and asset management foundation. I’m excited to work alongside such a highly regarded leadership team both in the US and globally to shape the portfolio for continued success.
“Oxford’s long-term perspective and commitment to its people strongly align with how I’ve led throughout my career. I’m looking forward to building on the momentum in the US and leading the next evolution of this incredible platform.”
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