European real estate investment association INREV has appointed Lonneke Löwik as its new chief executive, to take over from outgoing chief executive Matthias Thomas.

The appointment marks a return for Löwik who worked at INREV between 2009 and 2014 as director of research and market information, and then director of professional standards.

Since then, she worked on the launch of the industry lobbying group the Global Infrastructure Investor Association (GIIA), and was most recently head of operations for the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB).

Marieke van Kamp, head of private markets at NN Group and chairman INREV, said: “Lonneke is a highly capable, enthusiastic and energetic leader.

“She knows INREV well and is dedicated to our main objective of furthering the transparency and best practice of our industry.”

Löwik represented a new generation of leadership, van Kamp said.

Löwik said: “I’m re-joining INREV at a very exciting time for the association and for the industry and very much look forward to the challenges and triumphs ahead.”

IPE Real Estate reported back in March that Thomas was to leave his job at INREV in September after seven years at the association.

The following month, the Berlin-based company GIG announced it had hired Thomas as its new chief executive.