Aviva Investors announces real estate hires

(London): Aviva Investors, the global asset management business of Aviva plc (‘Aviva’), announces five hires to its Real Estate team with roles based in the UK and Germany.

Gary Sherwin has been appointed as Head of UK Investment Transactions, a new role with the responsibility for building out the newly-created UK Investment Transactions team that will source and execute all direct real estate transactions for the business in the UK.  Gary joins Aviva Investors following 16 years at Land Securities, where he led many high profile deals including the creation of several joint ventures. As Head of Retail Investment, he helped deliver the reshaping of the retail portfolio. 

Daniel Lienhard has joined Aviva Investors in Germany as Head of Investment Transactions, based in Frankfurt.  In this new role, he will be responsible for sourcing and executing direct real estate transactions for the business across Continental Europe with a focus on Germany.  Daniel has over 16 years’ investment and asset management experience in Germany and other various European real estate markets and joins from Savills Investment Management.

Gaston Brandes has been appointed as Managing Director, Head of Real Estate Business Development.  He has over 16 years’ experience in the financial industry, which includes 13 years within real estate.  He joins from Grosvenor Fund Management where he was Head of Capital Markets.  Previously, he was Executive Director for Global Real Estate Products & Business Development with UBS Global Asset Management. 

Helen Rainsford has been appointed Senior Director, Retail Development.  She has over 25 years’ experience in retail and mixed use development and she joins from Martins Properties, where she was Director of Development.  Previously, she was Director of Acquisitions at William Morrison Supermarkets, and prior to that she was a Development Executive at Land Securities. 

Darren Freed has been appointed as Retail Asset Manager.  He joins from Hammerson, where he was a Retail Asset Manager.  Prior to that he was an Associate Director, Retail Asset Advisory at Jones Lang LaSalle. 

Ed Casal, Chief Executive Officer Global Real Estate, commented: “I’m delighted to welcome Gary, Daniel, Gaston, Helen and Darren as they join Aviva Investors in a variety of roles within the real estate and client solutions teams.  Their collective knowledge and experience will be a huge asset to the business, bolstering the wealth of real estate investment experience we already have within the team. They will each play an important role in helping to deliver global real estate solutions, which is central to Aviva Investors’ ambition to become a global leader in outcome-oriented solutions.”

Aviva Investors Real Estate

  • On the ground teams in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, New York and Singapore with over £37 billion of real estate assets under management*.
  • Team of over 100 investment professionals, including dedicated Real Estate Investment Governance, Strategy and Research teams*.
  • Capabilities in direct, indirect (listed and unlisted), debt and equity investment.

-ENDS-

*As at as at 30 June 2016

Notes to editors

The information and opinions contained in this document are for use by the financial press and media only. No reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information or opinions contained in this document nor should they be seen as advice. 

The press release is provided on the basis that Aviva Investors Global Services Limited is not causing the communication of a financial promotion under exemption of the Financial Promotion Order, as Aviva Investors Global Services Limited has no control over the way in which an article based on this press release is prepared and published by the financial press and media. 

Except where stated as otherwise, the source of all information is Aviva Investors Global Services Limited (“Aviva Investors”) as at 15 November 2016  Unless stated otherwise any views, opinions [expressed are those of Aviva Investors. They should not be viewed as indicating any guarantee of return from an investment managed by Aviva Investors nor as advice of any nature.  The value of an investment and any income from it may go down as well as up and the investor may not get back the original amount invested. 

Issued by Aviva Investors Global Services Limited, registered in England No. 1151805.  Registered Office: St. Helen’s, 1 Undershaft, London EC3P 3DQ.  Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Laura Cocker

Media Relations Manager

Steve Ainger

Head of Media Relations

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