People moves: Peiner promoted to head infrastructure at Partners Group

Chancerygate, DigitalBridge, BlackRock, BGO, Vertical Bridge REIT, Partners Group, Peak Utility Services, The Connor Group, Kajima

Partners Group – The private markets firm has appointed Esther Peiner as partner and head of its US$22bn (€20.1bn) infrastructure business, having previously acted as managing director and co-head of infrastructure Europe. David Daum, who was previously managing director and co-head of infrastructure in Europe, has become partner and sole head of infrastructure Europe. Peiner has also joined the firm’s eight-person global executive team. Peiner is a member of the private infrastructure and global investment committees, as well as a board member at several portfolio companies including atNorth, EOLO, Lifelink and CapeOmega. Prior to joining Partners Group in 2015, Peiner worked at Macquarie Group for over a decade. As part of Daum’s new role, he will co-lead the firm’s private infrastructure investment committee. Daum is a board member at several portfolio companies including Gren, Hanseatic Energy Hub and VSB Renewables. Prior to joining Partners Group in 2011, Daum worked at Deutsche Bank.

Chancerygate – The urban logistics property developer and asset manager has appointed Simon Cowley as head of investment and asset management. Cowley previously worked at the real estate investment and asset management company M7 where his focus was on fund strategy and performance in the UK and European industrial and urban logistics sector. At Chancerygate, Cowley will be responsible for driving the strategy and performance of existing joint ventures, identifying and developing new investor partnerships and growing assets under management. 

Kajima – The pan-European real assets investor, developer and manager has appointed Michal Obara as managing director of Student Depot, Poland’s largest student accommodation provider. Michal brings over 10 years of experience in real estate capital markets and development and nine years in finance, analysis and reporting. Having been part of the Student Depot team in 2017, prior to Kajima’s shareholding, Michal has extensive expertise in student housing acquisitions, development and lettings processes. In his new role, he will oversee the implementation of Kajima’s ambitious growth strategies for the business as it enters its next phase.

The Connor Group – The US real estate investment firm has promoted Brock Wright to chief investment officer. Wright will continue to head the firm’s debt analytics refinances supplementals and investor relations. He oversees all property acquisitions and disposals, ensuring prospective transactions are line with the firm’s strategy and investment criteria. He also leads the finance team, which maintains data, analytics and sub-market-level knowledge about all locations where The Connor Group operates. 

DigitalBridge – Ersin Yorulmaz has been appointed managing director, co-head of European capital formation. He was previously at BlackRock where he served as country lead of alternatives distribution for Germany, Austria and Eastern Europe, leading capital raising efforts across private markets. Before joining BlackRock in 2015, Yorulmaz was an investment solutions consultant at Julius Baer.

BGO – The real estate firm’s Canadian chief investment officer, Christina Iacoucci, has been appointed to lead its overall business in Canada. In the role of head of Canada for BGO, Iacoucci will continue her leadership of the firm’s Canadian investment management business with expanded responsibility for property management and leasing services in Canada.

Vertical Bridge REIT – The company has promoted Bob Glosson to executive vice president and COO, and Blair Crawford to executive vice president of leasing and marketing. Glosson is currently executive vice president of real estate and technology. In his new role as COO, Glosson will oversee engineering, operations, real estate and information technology. Before joining the team, he was co-founder, president and COO at Eco-Site. Crawford, currently senior vice president of sales and marketing, will lead all leasing, sales and marketing activities for the company. Crawford will also assume additional responsibilities for the site administration and asset management departments.

ANREV – Ng Chiang Ling, chief investment officer for Asia at Hines, has been elected chairperson of management board at the Hong Kong-based Asia-Pacific real estate investor association ANREV. Ng chairs a committee of executives on the management board, which sets the strategic direction of ANREV.  

Peak Utility Services – The US provider of integrated infrastructure services to the natural gas, electric, and telecommunications industries has appointed Michael Lennon as CEO. Outgoing CEO Chris Larocca will remain on Peak’s board of directors and will remain CEO of Network Connex. Lennon previously led two other private equity-backed utility infrastructure firms from start-up through exit. Previously, Lennon was co-founder and CEO of PrimeLine Utility Services and InfrastruX Group.

Bonava – The European residential developer has appointed Lars Ingman interim CFO as Lars Granlöf leaves the role. Ingman, who has joined Bonava’s executive management team, held previous roles at John Mattson, Volati, Asker Healthcare Group and Cederroth.