REAL ESTATE – Quoc-Gian Tran, global head of real estate at Societe Generale Asset Management’s alternatives arm, is leaving to be replaced by Jean-Christophe Ginet.

Tran plans a “new departure to his career” a statement said – although he will remain as an advisor.

The move follows the consolidation of all the bank’s third-party real estate investment management within SGAM AI in October last year.

Ginet, 45, was previously managing director of strategy and development of SGAM Alternative Investments. He becomes global head of SGAM AI Real Estate Investment Managers.

The developments are effective July 1 and will enable the French bank to “support the expected growth of OPCIs [Organisme de Placement Collectif en Immobilier] (open-ended real estate funds) in France”.

Tran was instrumental in setting up the first arbitrage real estate funds in France, SG said.

Team members Aymeric Thibord, Jerome Delaunay and Anthony Guérard become managing directors for acquisitions, real estate asset management and product development respectively.

Jocelyne Grossin-Petit was named as deputy chief executive at the Gestinvim unit, supervising open-ended core real estate funds (SCPI).

“In three years, QG Tran successfully carried out the first stage of SGAM AI’s development of real estate investment management by building up an innovative and high-performing investment platform,” said SGAM AI chief executive Philippe Brosse.

“He now wishes to give a new departure to his career but will remain involved in the management of the two real estate FCPRs.”

Last year Tran told IPE that OPCI, a new class of UCITS funds could have a positive impact on the country’s real estate market and solve its retirement problem.