Nick Cooper resigns as CEO ING Real Estate Select

ING Real Estate Investment Management has announced that Nick Cooper, founder and CEO of its multi-manager business, ING Real Estate Select, has resigned and will leave the business at the end of December 2009.

Announcing his resignation, Nick said: 'I have had an exciting and challenging time with ING and have thoroughly enjoyed growing the multi-manager business into one of the most successful global businesses in this arena. The recent Head Office decision to re-locate the global Select business to the Netherlands does not, however, fit into my life or career plans at this time and I have therefore declined ING Real Estate's offer to remain part of the business.'

George Jautze, CEO ING REIM, commented: 'We are very sorry to see Nick leave but understand his decision. I would like to thank him personally for his leadership of Select over the past 10 years and for growing the business into one of the leaders in the field of indirect investment.'

Cooper joined ING Real Estate Investment Management over 20 years ago and was one of the Shareholder Directors of Baring, Houston & Saunders which was subsequently acquired by ING Real Estate. He founded ING Real Estate Select in 2000 and it was one of the first real estate multi-manager businesses to be established at that time. He is recognised as a leading figure in the indirect property industry, particularly in the UK, having recently been Chairman of the Association of Real Estate Funds for three years.

A succession plan for Select will be announced shortly.