Peter Hobbs joins IPD to develop business

Investment Property Databank (IPD) announced on Monday that Peter Hobbs is joining the research and index company as senior director and head of business development from the beginning of September. He joins from RREEF, the real estate investment management business of Deutsche Asset Management.

Hobbs will become the number two in the organisation, helping Laurent Ternisien, the managing director, with the commercial strategy of IPD. In this new role, Hobbs will reinforce IPD's client facing activities, including responsibility for three main areas of the business: product development, marketing and overall research. He will continue to work with RREEF - as with other major global clients - on specific research projects and 'issues of industry-wide significance'.

Ternisien said: 'Peter has a deep understanding of the real estate investment process, and has worked with some of the world's largest and most innovative investors, helping them to understand and exploit the risks and opportunities of global real estate. The experience and skills he is bringing to IPD really will help to continue to reinforce our offer to clients across a variety of different markets, ensuring our products remains relevant and that we support the property industry in converting information into knowledge.'

Hobbs added: 'One of the most profound lessons of the most recent downturn across global markets has been the need for greater transparency and improved understanding between investors and managers. Markets might be coming out of this downturn, but there remains much to do before real estate becomes truly accepted as a mainstream asset class. I am greatly looking forward to working with my new colleagues, clients and partners to reinforce the attractiveness of real estate to institutional investors.'