John Carrafiell, senior managing partner at global real estate investment management advisor BentallGreenOak (BGO) and responsible for the firm’s European business, has assumed the role of co-CEO and joined the firm's board of directors with effect from 1 July.
Carrafiell, who cofounded GreenOak Real Estate in 2010 before it merged with Bentall Kennedy in 2019, will be based in the US after having lived and worked in Europe for the past 23 years.
He joins Sonny Kalsi as co-CEO, and alongside Amy Price, president of BGO, the three leaders will form the firm’s global executive team.
'I am excited for the opportunity to work with our team across BentallGreenOak’s global real estate investment management and services platform, and honored to co-lead our team into the future alongside Sonny, Amy and the rest of our global leadership team,' said Carrafiell.
He added: 'Our business is only becoming more global - with unprecedented secular trends driving investment strategies across markets and clients increasingly looking for global solutions. By unifying our global executive team, we are further positioning BGO to be in lock-step with this evolution.'
Carrafiell built GreenOak into a $12 bn (€10 bn) investment manager active across 10 countries before the firm merged with Bentall Kennedy in July 2019 to form BentallGreenOak. Since then, he has served as senior managing partner with oversight for the firm’s European business.
'John’s appointment to co-CEO of BentallGreenOak is a natural progression and important step forward for the firm,' said Steve Peacher, board chairman of BentallGreenOak and president of SLC Management, the alternatives asset management business of Sun Life and majority owner of BentallGreenOak.
'In just two and a half years, BGO has grown substantially since the merger — from $47 bn to $62 bn in AUM — most significantly in the European market. We are delighted to formally bring John’s strategic insights and leadership to BGO’s global platform and welcome him to the board as co-CEO.'
'John and I have worked together for over 25 years and I’m eager to begin this new chapter in our firm’s future alongside him as co-CEO,' said Sonny Kalsi, co-CEO of BentallGreenOak.
'Since joining forces as co-founders of GreenOak Real Estate 11 years ago, John has led our European team, who have been consistently ahead of the curve in building a pan-European debt business and bringing an early, sharp focus on the logistics sector. BGO has become a market leader in Europe under John’s leadership and strategic direction.'
