Paul Finkbeiner, executive vice-president, global head of real estate for Great-West Lifeco. (Courtesy GWL Realty Advisors)

Paul Finkbeiner will step down as executive vice-president, global head of real estate at Great-West Lifeco and leave the company as of Sept. 30.

The announcement was made in a LinkedIn post by GWL’s executive vice-president and global CIO Raman Srivastava. It states Finkbeiner will remain as an advisor to Sagard Holdings and as a member of the EverWest board of directors.

Finkbeiner’s future plans include serving as a corporate director.

As the firm’s global head of real estate, Finkbeiner oversees $28 billion in assets under management in Canada, the U.S., U.K. and Ireland.

Previously, Finkbeiner was president of GWL Realty Advisors (GWLRA) for 18 years. Under his leadership, the company’s real estate portfolio grew from $800 million in Canada to $17 billion in Canada and the U.S.

He also oversaw the acquisition of EverWest Real Estate Investors and Guggenheim Real Estate in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and the sale of their combined business to Sagard as part of a long-term partnership.

Prior to joining Great-West Lifeco, Finkbeiner held increasingly senior positions with Trizec Properties in Toronto and Calgary, and at Brookfield Property Partners.

He has over 30 years of experience in the real estate Industry and holds bachelor and master of applied science degrees from Queen’s University and a master of business administration degree from McGill University.

Cody becomes chair at CAPREIT

Gina Parvaneh Cody has been appointed board chair for Canadian Apartment Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (CAR-UN-T), taking the position following the retirement of former chair Michael Stein.

During her more-than-30-year career, Cody has provided professional engineering services to some of Canada’s largest REITs, financial institutions, builders and developers.

Gina Parvaneh Cody has been named chair of the CAPREIT board. (Courtesy ERES)

She has been a professional engineer, corporate executive and principal of an engineering firm. Cody retired in 2016 as the executive chair of CCI Group Inc., a Toronto-based national engineering company.

Cody is also a trustee of ERES (ERE-UN-T).

Cody holds masters and doctorate degrees in building engineering from Concordia University.

She was awarded the Order of Montreal in 2019, is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineers, was named one of the Top-25 Women of Influence in 2020 and is a member of the Order of Canada.

New roles for Anaka, Stathonikos at NexLiving

NexLiving Communities Inc. (NXLV-X) announced Michael Anaka has transitioned from his role as chief executive officer to executive vice-chair of the company’s board.

Anaka led the growth of the company from its initial acquisition in 2018 to its current real estate portfolio comprising over $150 million of multiresidential properties.

NexLiving also announced the promotion of president Stavro Stathonikos to chief executive officer. Stathonikos has been president of NexLiving since June 2021 and will hold the dual titles of president and CEO.

There were several other changes to the Next Living board. Jeffrey Dean and Kent Farrell have left the board, though Dean will remain in an observer role.

Andrea Morwick, managing director of investment banking at Canaccord Genuity, joined the board. Morwick has over two decades of capital markets experience including investment banking, sales and trading, and investment management.

Nauss joins Colliers in Alberta

Krista Nauss has been brought on by Colliers (CIGI-T) as vice-president, REMS Alberta.

Nauss brings far-reaching experience to the role. Over the course of 20 years in Alberta’s commercial real estate industry, she has managed diverse first-class office, retail and industrial assets, often requiring expertise in construction management, asset repositioning and long-term capital planning.

Nauss spent the early part of her career at Colliers and has since held progressively senior roles in property management, most recently with Riverpark Properties Ltd. and Hines Canada Management.

She is an active member of the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network, including serving on the board of directors for the past four years.

Medoff moves to TD Securities

Elliot Medoff has joined TD Securities Real Estate Group as director, real estate property brokerage.

Medoff moves to TD Securities from JLL, where he spent almost seven years in a series of roles, most recently executive vice-president for the past two-and-a-half years.

Previously, he had spent nine years at Cushman & Wakefield Canada, moving up to become associate vice-president, capital markets.

“I am beyond excited to join an active team of senior real estate brokers and experienced underwriters who have been involved in $14.6 billion of property brokerage and M&A transactions over the past two years,” Medoff said in a statement.

Two new AY principals in Calgary

Avison Young is broadening its expertise in Calgary’s occupier services division with the appointments of Adam Hayes and John Engbloom as principals, occupier services.

Hayes brings 18 years of experience representing clients, with a skill set that includes complex lease negotiation, amalgamation planning driven by mergers and acquisitions and in-depth financial analysis.

A graduate of the University of Victoria, he has achieved top producer or chairman’s list designations in his previous role and is a licensed broker of record with the Real Estate Council of Alberta.

With 14 years’ experience, Engbloom excels in complex real estate matters requiring focus on financial analysis, disposition and acquisition strategies driven by mergers and acquisitions, head-lease and sublease negotiation, and site selection.

A licensed associate with RECA, he is a graduate of the University of Lethbridge and has consistently achieved top producer designation in his previous role.

RARE hires Pupulin as V-P resale

RARE Real Estate Inc. has named Ed Pupulin, former director of one of Canada’s largest brokerages, as the new executive vice-president of resale.

Pupulin has built a long career in leadership roles. Most recently he was director of international business development for HomeLife Realty Services and president of its affiliated company Pololoans Financial Inc.

Prior to joining HomeLife and launching Pololoans, Pupulin was with a major financial institution where he held management positions in credit adjudication, sales, operations, risk and audit.

He partnered with a large and successful property maintenance company that provided services for Cadillac Fairview, Cambridge Properties, First Gulf Group and other large commercial property holders.

Ross returns to Largo

Largo Capital commercial real estate finance announced the return of Kevin Ross to the company as head of its Canadian operations.

After spending almost nine years with Largo, Ross had spent the past year as vice-president, investments, at ACM Advisors in Toronto.

He had started with Largo in 2012, and through the years contributed to its success throughout Canada, including an expansion to Montreal which led to the opening of Largo’s first office in the market and has since originated $1 billion throughout Quebec.

JLL expands GTA team

JLL has expanded its GTA Northeast market team with the addition of five new industrial real estate professionals: Bryan Li (executive vice-president), Kern Ghotra (vice-president), James Wagstaff (senior associate), Ryan McDonnell (associate), and Joyce Zeng (marketing coordinator).

They combine to offer transaction and advisory services for occupiers and investors in the GTA Northeast and specialize in acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, design builds and industrial condominium development projects.

Morin director at District Realty

Michael Morin has been named director of commercial properties with Ottawa-based District Realty.

An Ottawa native, Morin joined District Realty in 2007 and has 19 years of experience in real estate management and leasing.

He will continue to manage and oversee large capital replacement projects, all commercial tenant fit-up move-in requirements, vendors, contract management, preventative maintenance and budget management.

Morin is also a member of the board of directors of BOMA Ottawa.