Aviva Investors appoints Daniel McHugh as CIO, Real Assets

(London) – Aviva Investors, the global asset management business of Aviva plc (‘Aviva’), has appointed Daniel McHugh as Chief Investment Officer of its £47.3 billion Real Assets business 1. This follows the appointment in January of former Real Assets CIO, Mark Versey, as Chief Executive Officer, Aviva Investors.

daniel mchugh

In his new role, Daniel will report to Mark Versey and will be responsible for the strategy and growth of Aviva Investors’ integrated Real Assets business, encompassing Real Estate, Infrastructure and Private Debt. He will oversee around 300 professionals working across fund management, asset management, development, transactions, origination, underwriting, research, and business management. Daniel will also join the Aviva Investors Executive Team.

Daniel joined Aviva Investors in April 2018 as Managing Director, Real Estate. In that role, he was responsible for business strategy, product initiatives, and external engagement across Real Estate, as well as leading the firm’s direct investment activity across the asset management, development, and transaction teams. He is also a member of the Real Assets Senior Leadership Team. Daniel has more than 25 years’ experience in UK and continental European real estate. Prior to joining Aviva Investors, he was Head of Continental European Real Estate Investment at Standard Life Investments. He joined Standard Life Investments in 2000.

A successor as Managing Director, Real Estate, will be announced in due course. In the interim, James Stevens, Head of Development, Global Real Estate, will lead the team.

Mark Versey, Chief Executive Officer at Aviva Investors, said:

“I’m delighted that we have promoted one of our own to the role of CIO for Real Assets, which is central to our commercial strategy and an area we continue to see strong demand from our UK and international clients. Daniel has an exceptional investment pedigree, with a relentless focus on clients and delivering strong performance. Since he joined the business, we have significantly built out our development, asset management and transaction capabilities in Real Estate, expanding our investment strategy in exciting new European locations and forging strong partnerships with key international investors. Daniel shares my ambition to establish Aviva Investors as a market leader in Real Assets, and I have every confidence the business will flourish under his leadership.”

Daniel McHugh, Chief Investment Officer, Real Assets, at Aviva Investors, said:

“I’m excited and proud that Mark and the executive team have given me the opportunity to lead our Real Assets business and I can’t wait to get started. We have a fantastic franchise, with highly capable and motivated teams across Real Estate, Infrastructure and Private Debt, and an integrated ESG approach that I believe is a differentiator for our parent Aviva and our external clients. My objective will be to ensure we continue growing the platform by delivering the investment outcomes our clients demand.”

For more information contact:

James Morgan

Media Relations Manager

Steve Ainger

Head of Media Relations

Important information

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 11 April 2022. Unless stated otherwise any views and 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.

Aviva Investors

Aviva Investors is the global asset management business of Aviva plc. The business delivers investment management solutions, services and client-driven performance to clients worldwide. Aviva Investors operates in 14 countries in Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and the United Kingdom with assets under management of £268 billion in assets under management as at 31 December 2021.

Aviva PLC

We are the UK’s leading Insurance, Wealth & Retirement business and we operate in the UK, Ireland and Canada. We also have international investments in Singapore, China and India.

  • We help our 18.5 million customers make the most out of life, plan for the future, and have the confidence that if things go wrong we’ll be there to put it right.
  • We have been taking care of people for 325 years, in line with our purpose of being ‘with you today, for a better tomorrow’. In 2021, we paid £30.2 billion in claims and benefits to our customers.
  • Aviva is a market leader in sustainability. In 2021, we announced our plan to become a Net Zero carbon emissions company by 2040, the first major insurance company in the world to do so. This plan means Net Zero carbon emissions from our investments by 2040; setting out a clear pathway to get there with a cut of 25% in the carbon intensity of our investments by 2025 and of 60% by 2030; and Net Zero carbon emissions from our own operations and supply chain by 2030.  Find out more about our climate goals at www.aviva.com/climate-goals and our sustainability ambition and action at www.aviva.com/sustainability
  • Aviva is a Living Wage and Living Hours employer and provides market-leading benefits for our people, including flexible working, paid carers leave and equal parental leave. Find out more at www.aviva.com/about-us/our-people/
  • At 31 December 2021, total Group assets under management at Aviva Group are £401 billion and our Solvency II shareholder capital surplus is £13.1 billion. Our shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange and we are a member of the FTSE 100 index.
  • For more details on what we do, our business and how we help our customers, visit www.aviva.com/about-us  
  • The Aviva newsroom at www.aviva.com/newsroom includes links to our spokespeople images, podcasts, research reports and our news release archive. Sign up to get the latest news from Aviva by email.
  • You can follow us on:

o    Twitter: www.twitter.com/avivaplc/  

o    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/aviva-plc

o    Instagram: www.instagram.com/avivaplc

For the latest corporate films from around our business, subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/aviva

Aviva Investors Global Services Limited
St Helen's, 1 Undershaft, London, EC3P 3DQ

Phone     +44 (0)20 7809 6000

Fax          +44 (0)20 7489 7940

Web        www.avivainvestors.com

Email      info@avivainvestors.com

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 and a member of the Investment Association.

Telephone calls may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes.