CapMan Real Estate has appointed Thomas Laakso as investment director to support the international growth of its hotel fund.
Laakso brings over 20 years of international experience to the role, from leading hotel operations, hotel development, as well as hotel consulting and asset management across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the USA.
Laakso previously worked at Marriott International since 2010, most recently as vice president, international hotel development. He was responsible for hotel development efforts for all 30 brands in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Nordic countries. Prior to that, he held a senior position within the hotel consulting and valuation practice of HVS in London.
In the new role, Laakso will divide his time between CapMan’s Helsinki office and Zurich.
Mika Matikainen, managing partner of CapMan Real Estate, said: 'Thomas’ profile is an outstanding match with the fund’s strategy and will enhance our opportunities to reach a broader group of international investors and grow the portfolio of hotel assets throughout the Nordic region. We warmly welcome Thomas to CapMan.'
CapMan Hotels II fund is one of the largest owners of hotel properties in the Nordics. The semi-open-ended fund with an evergreen structure invests in hotel properties generating a stable and predictable income, mainly across the Nordics.
The current portfolio consists of 27 assets across Finland and Sweden with multiple leading operators as tenants and a weighted average lease term of 23.5 years. The fund currently has €368 mln in equity commitments.
Said Laakso: 'I am excited to join the CapMan Real Estate team and help take the fund to the next level. An income-focused strategy generates strong investor interest, the portfolio is in excellent shape and the fund is well-positioned to benefit from the resurgence of both domestic and international travel.
'I see many interesting opportunities in the Northern European market and look forward to growing the fund together with our team.'
CapMan’s Real Estate team comprises over 50 real estate professionals in Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo and London. CapMan Real Estate currently manages a total of €3.6 bn in real estate assets.
