Meaghan Peloso has been promoted to chief financial officer at Dream Hard Assets Alternative Trust, soon to be renamed Dream Impact Trust. (Courtesy Dream)

Meaghan Peloso has been promoted to chief financial officer of Dream Hard Assets Alternatives Trust, after holding the post on an interim basis. The trust is soon to be renamed Dream Impact Trust, as it refines its focus within the impact investment sector.

Peloso is also vice-president and chief accounting officer of Dream, where she manages the accounting functions, as well as financial reporting and investor communications.

During nearly seven years at Dream, she has served in a series of increasingly senior roles since being hired as manager of financial reporting in May 2014.

Previously, Peloso worked in the audit and assurance practice of PricewaterhouseCooper LLP for almost four years, where she obtained her CPA designation.

Peloso holds a bachelor of commerce in accounting from Carleton University in Ottawa.

In the announcement, Peloso said impact investments represent 74 per cent of the trust’s current assets. She expects that number to rise to close to 100 per cent over the next four years “as we build out our asset pipeline, exit non-core investments and recycle capital.”

JLL adds to property management team

JLL has added two members to its property management team: Allan Yearwood, executive vice-president and Blair Reeve, senior vice-president.

Prior to joining JLL, Yearwood led Eastern Canadian property management operations at Colliers International, and managed a team of advisors responsible for 30 million square feet of assets, valued at over $8 billion.

Bringing over 24 years of experience in business development, Reeve has a well-rounded expertise in all aspects of commercial real estate.

JLL launched its Calgary-based property management business line in 2017, led by vice-president and national lead Ron Fiell. Yearwood and Reeve will focus on strategic partnerships, client relationships and achieving business growth objectives.

Forum expands real estate business

Forum Equity Partners has hired Aly Damji as a partner to grow and to lead Forum’s real estate business.

Damji was previously the EVP, investments and asset management for Toronto-based Hullmark, co-leading direct acquisitions and leading the firm’s asset management and operations functions.

In his seven years at Hullmark, Damji helped to increase assets under management 15-fold, to just under $1 billion.

Prior to Hullmark, Damji was involved in the acquisition and asset management of hotel assets across North America, and over the course of his career has been involved with principal investments valued at more than $3 billion; arranged debt financings of more than $500 million; and secured over 300 leases resulting in NOI of $40 million.

Complementing Aly is Hoa Nguyen, who joined the real estate team as an associate. Nguyen spent over two years at TD Securities where she was involved with over $2 billion of real estate transactions. Nguyen holds an AACI designation.

Forum is a developer, private capital investor and alternative asset manager with a focus on real estate and private equity and oversees approximately $1.3 billion in assets under management.

Sparrow, Sheer return to CBRE

CBRE Canada announced Mark Sparrow and Luke Scheer have rejoined CBRE to lead an enhanced hotel investment practice. The team will spearhead a new initiative that coordinates opportunities with seniors housing, health care and student accommodations.

Sparrow and Scheer have built a formidable operating asset practice which is anchored in the hotel space. They are industry leaders with an extensive global network of clients and have executed some of the largest hotel transactions in the world involving Canadian assets.

Sparrow and Scheer are joined by Ryan Tran and Aliya Kurbanova as vice-president and senior administrative assistant, respectively.

“Now is the time to lean in, not step away,” Sparrow said in the announcement. “Our clients look to us for guidance and our message is to think big, be creative and don’t get caught flat footed. The next cycle won’t tolerate silos and geographic limitations.”

Zilk retires, Filzi new CEO at Reed MIDEM

Michel Filzi, above, will succeed Paul Zilk as president/CEO at Reed MIDEM. (Courtesy Reed MIDEM)

On the international scene, Paul Zilk has stepped down as president/CEO of Reed MIDEM, an international organizer of business events for the real estate and entertainment industries. He’ll be succeeded by Michel Filzi, who was president/CEO of sister company Reed Expositions France.

Zilk joined Reed MIDEM in 2001 and had been CEO for more than 17 years. Its portfolio includes leading real estate events MIPIM and MAPIC, and entertainment events MIPCOM, MIPTV and MIDEM. Zilk will take on an advisory role to Dominic Feltham, the EMEA President for Reed Exhibitions, for the next 12 months.

Filzi has 22 years of experience at Reed Expositions France, including six years as CEO. Filzi will remain as president/CEO of Reed Expositions France and will continue to report to Feltham.

Tomago Collins joins Four Seasons board

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts announced the addition of Tomago Collins to its board of directors, representing long-term shareholder Cascade Investment.

Collins, executive vice-president of communications and business development at Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, brings over 25 years experience in the sports, entertainment, media and real estate investment industries.

In his current role as a senior executive, Collins works closely with ownership and senior leaders across a multi-billion-dollar portfolio of Kroenke-owned global businesses on strategy, communications and development.

He also has extensive experience as a member of various boards of directors.

Tam joins Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP announced Iris Tam has joined the firm as partner in the real estate group in its Toronto office.

With over two decades of experience as both in-house counsel and private practitioner, Tam’s practice includes complex corporate-commercial matters, real estate litigation matters and all aspects of commercial real estate.

Tam has assisted clients with acquisitions and dispositions, real estate financings and development projects.

She has also helped clients with drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements with governmental authorities, municipalities, utilities and telecommunication companies.