GLOBAL - AXA Real Estate, Scottish Property Federation, Scottish Widows Investment Partnership, Hawkpoint, Cushman & Wakefield
AXA Real Estate - The European fund manager has followed up the creation of its US distribution platform in the summer with the appointment of Olivier Thoral as head of North America. Thoral will start his new position in New York with immediate effect and be responsible for developing business opportunities for AXA Real Estate in the region, as well as for coordinating its US activities and clients with support from AXA Real Estate's global teams. He has worked at AXA Real Estate for more than 10 years and has extensive experience across corporate finance and opportunistic fund management, deal sourcing and execution.
Scottish Property Federation - Malcolm Naish, global head of property at Scottish Widows Investment Partnership, has been chosen to succeed Phil Miller as SPF chairman. Naish previously served as vice-chairman of the SPF and has more than 35 years of experience in the real estate industry. Supporting Naish for 2010-11 as vice-chairman is David Peck, managing director at Buccleuch Property.
Scottish Widows Investment Partnership - Peter Macpherson has been appointed to the newly created role of commercial director for real estate. Based in the London office, he will report to Malcolm Naish and drive the commercial side of the firm's institutional real estate division. He will be working closely with senior real estate managers and the sales team and will draw on his 25 years' experience in property markets. Most recently, Macpherson worked as head of client services and business development at ING Real Estate Investment Management.
Hawkpoint - The corporate advisory business of the Collins Stewart Group has appointed Robert Orr as senior adviser. Orr arrives after working at Jones Lang LaSalle for close to 30 years, including seven years as European chief executive. He will focus on the real estate sector, working closely with Edward Arkus, who leads Hawkpoint's real estate practice.
Cushman & Wakefield - James Underhill is to serve as the next chief executive for the Americas, Cushman & Wakefield's largest business unit. Underhill will oversee 141 of the firm's offices in nine countries throughout North and South America. He succeeds John Santora, who was named chief of the company's client solutions group in June and plans to remain based in the Washington, DC office.
