José Pellicer, who recently led the global investment strategy at M&G Real Estate, has joined a newly formed European value-add real estate investment management firm, as a founding partner alongside Chris Warren and three others.
Pellicer joins Evonite as partner, focusing on strategy and Warren will take on the role of partner responsible for finance and operations, joining from Realty Income where he was head of finance for Europe.
Before joining M&G Real Estate in 2019 in a newly created investment strategy role, Pellicer was the former head of research at Patrizia. He was a partner and head of research at Rockspring Property Investment Managers from May 2011 to May 2018 before it was acquired by Patrizia, from May 2011 to May 2018.
His previous roles include working as research and strategy director at AEW Europe and as vice president at Goldman Sachs.
Prior to a two-year stint at Realty Income, Warren worked at Rockspring and Patrizia between 2004-2008 and 2010-2021 where he led fund accounting and regulatory teams, co-launched multiple funds and joint ventures, as well as overseeing all corporate transactions.
He also worked for Fidelity Investments as finance manager, assisting in the launch and implementation of their direct real estate investment business.
In May, former Patrizia directors Paul Hampton, Charles-Nicolas Tarrière and Kevin Muscat teamed up to set up London-based Evonite, a business expected to create “fund vintages which deliver consistent and meaningful performance for its fund investors”.
The trio worked together for over 10 years at Rockspring on the market TransEuropean value-add fund series.
Evonite said Pellicer and Warren will complete the firm’s founding partnership team.
“To finally have José and Chris onboard completes the launch phase of Evonite. We have reunited with the common purpose of putting our fund investors first at what is a significant point in our industry where attractive opportunities are beginning to appear,” said Hampton, CEO of Evonite.
Pellicer said: “The real estate industry is currently undergoing one of the most interesting tectonic shifts I have experienced in my career. The geopolitical, economic and investment environment is fundamentally changing. In periods like this it is important to be flexible and nimble, but also to count on strong foundations.
“Evonite offers precisely that: the joint experience and track record of a team I have worked with for over 10 years coupled with the strategic flexibility of a startup. It is the beginning of an exciting journey that has no equal.”
Warren said: “Whilst we share a long dated transactional and fund formation history, it is also exciting to have the opportunity to establish a cutting-edge, next generation operational and controls framework from the outset.
“Challenging the status quo and offering investors something different requires solid plumbing.”
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