European real estate investment manager AEW Europe is launching a search for a new CEO to replace veteran Francois Pochard who retires early next year, well-informed sources claim.

European real estate investment manager AEW Europe is launching a search for a new CEO to replace veteran Francois Pochard who retires early next year, well-informed sources claim.

AEW Europe declined to comment on this report and it is unclear whether the company would prefer to appoint an executive from within the group or an outsider to take on the role of CEO when Pochard steps down. It is believed he plans to do so by March next year.

Pochard (59) has been working in the fields of finance and real estate for over 20 years. He has held various senior level functions, including that of director of real estate investments and asset management department at Caisse des dépôts et consignations. He was appointed CEO of IXIS AEW Europe, the pan-European investment manager of IXIS Asset Management Group in Paris, in March 2007. Before that Pochard was senior managing director in charge of the French activities of IXIS AEW.

AEW Europe employs over 260 professionals who manage more than EUR 17 bn of assets through comingled investment vehicles, separate accounts and real estate securities funds for both institutional investors and private clients. The company is an affiliate of AEW Capital Management, which is based in the US city of Boston. Together, the AEW Europe and AEW Capital Management real estate management platform has gross assets of EUR 32 bn.

AEW Capital Management is an autonomous subsidiary of global investment management giant Natixis Global Asset Management.