Leaf Living, DTZ Investors, ULI, DLA Piper, Vizta, Great Portland Estates, Heitman, AXA, BBG, Impax Asset Management, UBS AM, CBRE, Freddie Mac, Campbell Global, Savills IM, Nuveen, Long Harbour, Cromwell Property, Henderson Park, Cerberus Real Estate Capital Management
Impax Asset Management – Andrew Morris has been appointed as co-head of private equity infrastructure to lead the firm’s private markets investment opportunities related to the transition to a more sustainable economy. Morris joins from UBS Asset Management, where he served as head of infrastructure equity, overseeing the business investing across the energy, digital and transport sectors in Europe and North America. He previously held the role of managing director within the infrastructure, real assets business at Canada Pensions Plan Investments, and was earlier a founding member of the RREEF Infrastructure European team. With more than two decades of experience, he also spent several years at John Laing, where he established a track record focusing on concessions, public-private partnerships and greenfield projects. In his new role, he will support Impax Asset Management’s target of scaling its business at this stage of its growth, focusing on working closely alongside Daniel von Preyss and replacing current co-head Carsten Johansen.
CBRE – Robert Koontz has been appointed as senior managing director, head of multifamily debt capital markets within the debt and structured finance team to lead the firm’s strategy to expand its multifamily debt platform. Koontz joins from Freddie Mac, where he served as head of multifamily capital markets. He previously held structured finance roles at Wachovia Securities and Banc of America Securities. In his new role, he will support CBRE’s target of deepening agency origination capabilities and developing innovative financing solutions, focusing on strengthening institutional relationships across the capital markets landscape.
Savills Investment Management – Shu Watanabe has been appointed as head of Japan to lead the firm’s growth and investment strategies in the Japanese real estate market. Watanabe joins from Nuveen, where he served as managing director and head of Japan, and previously held senior investment roles at JP Morgan Asset Management, Macquarie Capital Securities, Morgan Stanley Japan and Itochu Corporation. In his new role, he will support Savills IM’s target of deepening its presence and capitalising on growth opportunities in Japan as the local market continues to evolve.
Heitman – Maureen Mahr von Staszewski has been appointed managing director in the firm’s European real estate investment team to lead the firm’s strategy. Mahr von Staszewski joins from AXA, where she served as a fund management lead, overseeing strategy, portfolio construction and investor relations. She previously held the role of real estate fund management leadership at Swiss Life and Cromwell. In her new role, she will support Heitman’s target of driving continued expansion across Europe and supporting strategic growth initiatives, focusing on capital raising efforts and investment activity across traditional and alternative property types throughout the region.
Campbell Global – Michael Barbara has been promoted to the role of head of global acquisitions. He will lead Campbell Global’s timberland investment activities worldwide, including investment origination, due diligence, transaction execution and divestments. Barbara will also continue his current responsibility as head of Australasia and will contribute to the firm’s global investment strategy as a member of the executive team, investment committee and price forecast team. He brings more than 20 years of experience in forestry and nature-based asset investment management. Prior to joining Campbell Global in September 2024, he was a founding employee at New Forests, where he held senior leadership positions including chief commercial officer and director of business development. He is based in Sydney, Australia. Barbara succeeds Stan Renecker, who has led acquisitions at the firm for more than 36 years. Renecker will remain with Campbell Global through 31 December 2026, to ensure a successful transition.
Leaf Living – David Mullin has been appointed CFO to lead the firm’s strategy. Mullin joins from Sage, where he served as managing director of commercial operations, overseeing the finance function as financial director and interim CFO. He previously held the role of senior financial roles at Berkeley Homes. In his new role, he will support the Blackstone Real Estate and Regis Group founded single family housing firm’s target of scaling the platform and supporting the continued evolution of the business.
DTZ Investors – The real estate investment management division of Cushman & Wakefield has appointed Simon Down CEO to lead the firm’s strategy. Down joins from his role within the business as head of pooled funds, overseeing a range of roles since 2015 within the wider Cushman & Wakefield group. He previously held the role of part of the leadership team at DTZ Investors since 2018. In his new role, he will support DTZ Investors’ target of continuing its growth and transitioning to a new leadership structure, focusing on the urban logistics, essential retail and living sectors. Chris Sim has been appointed CIO to lead the firm’s strategy. Sim joins from his role within the business as head of separate accounts, overseeing several discretionary fund management and European asset management leadership roles during his 22 years with the firm. In his new role, he will support DTZ Investors’ target of continuing its growth, focusing on driving the business forward alongside the new leadership structure.
ULI – Olaf Schmidt has been appointed chair to lead the firm’s strategy in Italy. Schmidt joins from DLA Piper, where he served as partner and Location head real estate Italy, overseeing the growth of the Italian practice and the firm’s international real estate platform. He previously held the role of real estate lawyer across various firms in Germany and Italy. In his new role, he will support ULI Italy’s target of enhancing the institute’s visibility and presence as an essential destination for the industry to convene expert leaders, focusing on addressing the critical issues impacting the Italian real estate market. Fernando Vasco Costa has been appointed chair to lead the firm’s strategy in Portugal. Costa joins from Vizta, where he serves as CEO, overseeing large-scale residential projects that prioritise housing supply and urban integration. He previously held the role of leadership positions in consultancy and solution development at JLL. In his new role, he will support ULI Portugal’s target of strengthening the organisation’s role as an independent platform for knowledge, collaboration and leadership in shaping the cities of the future, focusing on accelerating sustainable and affordable housing solutions and urban regeneration. Alessandra Canavesi and Christoph Mayr have been appointed as co-chairs of the ULI NEXT Group in Europe to lead the programme’s mission of supporting real estate professionals in their career progression. Canavesi, who joins from BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts where she serves as head of marketing and customer experience for alternatives, and Mayr, who joins from PIMCO Prime Real Estate where he serves as head of sustainability for Europe and chief of staff, both succeed Daniel Benighaus. With over 20 years of experience, Canavesi previously led global capital raising and brand strategy teams at LaSalle Investment Management. Mayr, who has spent 12 years at PIMCO Prime Real Estate, established a track record across international risk and portfolio management roles in Germany, France and the US. In their new roles, they will support ULI’s target of expanding the network, driving collaborative industry engagement, and promoting diversity of perspective across the European real estate value chain.
Henderson Park – Tyler Rothenberg has been appointed as managing director to lead the firm’s investment team and advance its US real estate investment strategy. Rothenberg joins from Cerberus Real Estate Capital Management, where he served as a managing director and head of the West Coast real estate office, and previously held the role of associate at JP Morgan Real Estate Partners. In his new role, he will support Henderson Park’s target of continued expansion across North America, focusing on sourcing and executing investment opportunities and strengthening regional and capital relationships.
Great Portland Estates – Andrew White is stepping down as development director after more than thirteen years with the firm. His departure comes as the firm manages an orderly handover period, focusing on transferring his responsibilities to existing members of the development team as the role will not be replaced. Dan Nicholson, executive director, retains board level responsibility for development.
BBG – Faraz Iqbal has been appointed as chief technology and AI officer to lead the firm’s enterprise technology strategy. Iqbal joins from Edible Brands, where he served as chief technology officer. He previously held senior technology and operations leadership roles at Zilliant, Imagine Communications and Naranga. With more than 25 years of experience, he has established a track record in leading enterprise technology transformation for private equity-backed companies. In his new role, he will support BBG’s target of powering its growth and clients’ success through advanced technology, focusing on spearheading AI and data transformation, technology modernisation and scaling global operations.
Long Harbour – Véronique Medcalf has been appointed as group human resources director to lead the firm’s people strategy and support its growth and talent development. Medcalf joins from Cromwell Property, where she served as head of people for Europe and Singapore, and previously held senior international human resources leadership roles across the financial services, real estate and technology sectors. In her new role, she will support Long Harbour’s target of building the talent and culture needed to drive the firm’s continued expansion, focusing on supporting its growing UK residential business.
