Dennis Lopez is stepping down from his role as global chief investment officer at Paris-based AXA Investment Managers - Real Assets (AXA IMRA) to become CEO of a global real estate investment manager in Canada.
Announcing his departure, AXA IMRA said Lopez had been instrumental in its transformation from a 'Europe-centric real estate manager to a global leader in real assets'.
He leaves at the end of the month and takes the helm on 5 June at QuadReal Property Group, an investment manager with CA$18 bn (€12 bn) of managed assets.
QuadReal is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia and was established on 1 February this year by bcIMC, one of Canada's largest institutional investors, to manage its real estate portfolio. The international investments are spread across 150 cities in 17 countries and QuadReal's global and local partners include Blackrock, Hines, Brookfield, LaSalle, Invesco and AXA IMRA.
Isabelle Scemama, chief executive of AXA IMRA said: 'We are fortunate that, with Dennis' support, we have built a strong and highly professional team that will seamlessly pick up the reins from him, ensuring our clients continue to receive strong investment performance and first class service. I am also pleased that Dennis will join QuadReal as CEO, one of our clients and partners, where we very much look forward to continuing to work with him. Finally, I would like to wish Dennis all my very best for the future.'
AXA IMRA has over €71 bn in assets under management, including €54 bn in direct property and infrastructure and €14.3 bn in real asset finance as of end-March 2017.
News of Lopez's depature comes days after PropertyEU revealed that AXA IMRA has appointed a global head of real estate fundraising for the first time. Charles Daulon du Laurens has been promoted from European head of sales, real assets to global head of the Client Capital Group.
