SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Greykite, Blackstone, Morrison, Swiss Life AM, Quinbrook, LD Energy, Henderson Park, Greystar Real Estate Partners, Cushman & Wakefield, Verdion, Wipro, Westbridge Advisory
Morrison — The global infrastructure investment manager has appointed Gianfranco Saladino as executive director for Europe, where he will oversee investment origination, execution, and management across the region. Saladino joins from Swiss Life Asset Managers, where he served as executive director and head of value add infrastructure, and previously held the role of senior director at BlueOrchard Finance. With over 14 years of experience, he also spent six years within the private infrastructure team at Partners Group, where he established a track record in delivering complex core plus and value add strategies across the digital, healthcare, and transport sectors. In his new role, he will support Morrison‘s target of scaling its European market presence and sourcing long-term value opportunities throughout Italy, Spain, the DACH region, and the Nordics.
Quinbrook — The specialist energy transition infrastructure manager has appointed Tim Horneman as managing director for its Australian team, reporting to CEO Brian Restall. Horneman joins from LD Energy, where he served as chief commercial officer, and previously held various leadership roles across the gas, renewables and storage sectors. With over 20 years of experience, he also spent several years in senior positions across the power and LNG industries, where he established a track record in firming and system reliability. In his new role, he will support Quinbrook‘s target of growing and executing its expanding pipeline of projects from the Brisbane office. Tom Wray has been appointed as senior director for the UK team, where he will oversee investment activity and expansion into new markets. Wray joins from BrightSource Energy, where he served as lead for concentrated solar power activities, and previously held the role of senior developer at Drax and AES. With an extensive background in power industry transactions, he also spent several years managing asset origination and construction, where he established a track record in complex power project delivery. In his new role, he will support Quinbrook‘s target of scaling its UK and Irish presence. Andrew Varvari has been appointed to the newly created role of head of legal for Australia, where he will oversee legal strategy and executive functions for the regional platform. Varvari joins from major Australian energy companies including Queensland Gas Company and BG Group, where he served in senior legal and executive roles, and previously held positions at various government-owned utilities. With over 20 years of experience, he also spent several years navigating the regulatory landscape of the Australian energy market, where he established a track record in high-level corporate governance. In his new role, he will support Quinbrook‘s target of advancing the Gladstone State Development Area Energy Hub and the partnership with Stanwell for long-duration battery storage.
Greykite — The European real estate investment firm has appointed Baptiste Meurisse as a member of the asset management team, where he will oversee value creation initiatives across the firm’s diversified investment strategies. Meurisse joins from Blackstone, where he served as a principal in the real estate asset management team, and previously held a key role overseeing residential portfolio companies in Spain and Denmark. With seven years of experience at his previous firm, he also spent several years working with operating partners and C-suite executives, where he established a track record in driving portfolio performance and capital expenditure oversight. In his new role, he will support Greykite‘s target of scaling its diversified living platforms. Silvia Cadau has been appointed to the investment team, where she will oversee the sourcing, underwriting, and implementation of new investment strategies. Cadau joins from Blackstone, where she served as a senior associate on the real estate acquisitions team, and previously held a role focusing on the pan-European industrial sector. With five years of experience, she also spent several years managing acquisitions within high-conviction verticals, where she established a track record in institutional-grade deal execution. In her new role, she will support Greykite‘s target of expanding its industrial and logistics investment themes across Europe.
Cushman & Wakefield — Javier Bernades has been appointed as head of offices, EMEA, where he will oversee the regional office strategy and support clients throughout the lifecycle of office assets. Bernades joins from his role as head of offices in Spain, where he served as a senior leader advising developers and investors. With extensive experience in the sector, he also spent several years in leadership roles at Cushman & Wakefield, where he established a track record in advising occupiers on evolving workplace needs. In his new role, he will support Cushman & Wakefield‘s target of strengthening its regional office advisory as market demands shift across Europe. Patrick Hogan has been appointed as head of living, EMEA, where he will oversee the firm’s strategy for the living and operational real estate sectors. Hogan joins from his role as head of EMEA living capital markets, where he served as a director, and previously held the role of head of living in Ireland at Cushman & Wakefield. With a deep background in residential developments, he also spent several years at Cushman & Wakefield, where he established a track record in diversifying the business into leasing and management of large-scale projects. In his new role, he will support Cushman & Wakefield‘s target of providing cohesive insights and navigating rapid growth in the living sector. James Meikle has been appointed as head of tenant representation, EMEA, where he will oversee real estate strategy, site selection, and negotiations for global occupiers. Meikle joins from his role as lead for the London tenant representation team at Cushman & Wakefield, where he served as a senior adviser. With significant experience in major headquarters projects, he also spent several years at Cushman & Wakefield, where he established a track record in cross-market coordination and best-practice advisory. In his new role, he will support Cushman & Wakefield‘s target of enhancing seamless, strategic support for tenants across the region.
Henderson Park — The global real estate investment firm has appointed Liza Kunkel as global head of communications, where she will oversee the firm’s global press office, brand strategy, and investor communications. Kunkel joins from Greystar Real Estate Partners, where she served as global head of communications, and previously held the role of director on the public affairs team at Blackstone. With over 10 years of experience, she also spent several years at Blackstone focusing on external relations for private equity and real estate leadership, where she established a track record in strengthening institutional reputation within complex investment organizations. In her new role, she will support Henderson Park‘s target of elevating its global brand and market profile as the firm continues to scale its platform across the US and Europe.
SmartStop Self Storage REIT — Wayne Johnson has been appointed as a director for the board of directors, where he will provide strategic guidance as the firm advances its long-term growth and pursues new investment opportunities. Johnson currently serves as the firm‘s chief investment officer, a role he has held since 2015, and previously served as president from 2019 until this board appointment. With over 45 years of experience, he also spent more than a decade at SmartStop Self Storage REIT in various leadership capacities, including senior vice president of acquisitions, where he established a track record in developing and operating over one million square feet of self-storage properties. In his new role, he will support SmartStop Self Storage REIT‘s target of scaling its brand and advancing its position as a premier owner and operator of self-storage facilities in the US and Canada.
Verdion — Oliver Kemper has been appointed as head of investment – Germany for the firm’s pan-European team, where he will oversee acquisitions, sales, and deal sourcing for Verdion‘s funds and mandates. Kemper transitions from his previous role as an investment director at Verdion, where he served as a lead for German markets. With extensive experience in logistics real estate, he also spent several years at Verdion, where he established a track record in securing new opportunities across all German regions. In his new role, he will support Verdion‘s target of scaling its investment platform and fund performance. Sebastian Achten has been appointed as leasing and development director for the German portfolio, where he will oversee the leasing of new accommodation and build to suit activity. Achten transitions from his previous role at Verdion, where he served as a leasing manager. With a deep background in strategic park development, he also spent several years at Verdion, where he established a track record in managing pipeline delivery from the firm’s Düsseldorf office. In his new role, he will support Verdion’s target of growing its strategic park presence across Germany. Jacob Rasmussen has been appointed as head of technical development – Nordics for the regional expansion team, where he will oversee the company’s pipeline from urban hubs to major strategic parks. Rasmussen transitions from his previous role as technical director at Verdion, where he served as a lead for Nordic projects. In his new role, he will support Verdion‘s target of capitalising on the Fehmarnbelt connection between Germany and Denmark. Simon Davies has been appointed as technical director – Sweden for the development team, where he will oversee the delivery of the firm’s Swedish development pipeline. Davies transitions from his previous role at Verdion, where he served as a project director. With a focus on technical innovation, he also spent several years at Verdion, where he established a track record in completing Verdion Park Södertälje for occupiers including AstraZeneca. In his new role, he will support Verdion‘s target of transforming brownfield sites into high-spec logistics assets.
Westbridge Advisory — Adam Savitz has been appointed as director sustainability for the energy and sustainability consultancy, where he will oversee the expansion of sustainability consulting and decarbonisation strategies across the UK and Europe. Savitz joins from Wipro, where he served as co-head of the global sustainability practice, and previously held the role of leader for the sustainable infrastructure business at Johnson Controls. With over 20 years of experience, he also spent several years at PwC in London and New York, where he established a track record in developing sustainable value creation programs for global investors. In his new role, he will support Westbridge Advisory‘s target of helping clients navigate climate risk and accelerating decarbonisation following the firm’s acquisition by Permira.
