Stu Kedwell will succeed the retiring Dan Chornous as global chief investment officer at RBC Global Asset Management, effective Jan. 31.

Kedwell is a longtime investment professional with nearly 30 years of experience at RBC. He will step up from his role as managing director, senior portfolio manager and global head of equities. Having worked closely with Chornous for over 25 years, Kedwell is well-aligned with the principles that have defined RBC GAM's investment approach.

Kedwell will lead a multinational team comprising over 400 professionals. RBC GAM manages over $700 billion in global assets, with over 270 investment strategies spanning over 20 asset classes. 

Kedwell will also continue to co-manage the RBC North American Value Fund alongside Doug Raymond, managing director and senior portfolio manager.

Since becoming global CIO in 2002, Chornous led major transformation within the firm, including the acquisitions of Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management in 2008 and BlueBay Asset Management in 2010.

"Dan's contributions to RBC GAM have been nothing short of extraordinary," said Damon Williams, CEO, RBC GAM, in the announcement. "His forward-thinking approach, commitment to innovation and dedication to clients have set a high standard for our firm and positioned our global investment team for continued growth and evolution as we look to the future.“

Soper heads Realty Alliance board

Royal LePage CEO Phil Soper has been appointed board chair of The Realty Alliance, a network of North America’s largest full-service real estate brokerages.

Soper is the only Canadian on the organization’s board.

“The real estate industry is in a period of profound change,” Soper said in a blog post on Royal LePage’s website. “Consumers are demanding better experiences, regulatory environments are shifting and technology and data ownership have become strategic imperatives. The Realty Alliance brings together the firms most capable of shaping what comes next – and I’m honoured to help lead that conversation.”

The Realty Alliance is composed of many of the largest residential real estate firms in the United States and Canada. Representing more than 100,000 agents, the group is recognized for advancing brokerage leadership, shaping industry standards and driving innovation in technology, data management and agent experience.

Soper succeeds outgoing chair Michael Scarafile, CEO of Carolina One Real Estate.

Wadley moves to Dream Industrial as COO

Dream Industrial REIT (DI-UN-T) has announced its new chief operating officer and it is someone well known with the Dream group of companies, Gord Wadley, currently the COO with Dream Office REIT (D-UN-T). The move will be effective Jan. 1.

In his new role with the trust, Wadley will be responsible for all aspects of portfolio operations including property management and leasing.

Wadley joined the company in 2011 and has held progressively senior positions including vice-president, leasing and senior vice-president, commercial properties. Prior to joining Dream Office, Wadley worked in commercial brokerage for CB Richard Ellis providing commercial representation to corporate clients both domestic and international.

He holds a degree from Acadia University and earned his MBA in real estate leadership from the University of Fredericton, N.B.

Gangoso takes retail role at C&W

Cushman & Wakefield (CWK-N) has made two appointments within its retail platform, including the hiring of Jessica Gangoso in Vancouver as vice-president, emerging brands. The firm also named Kristen Pash as senior director of shopping centre leasing and development for North America.

Based in Vancouver, Gangoso brings more than 20 years of expertise in retail and real estate, spanning acquisitions, land development, leasing and consulting. In 2020, she founded Vela Retail Advisors, consulting for top-tier brands and offering end-to-end retail services from real estate to marketing and growth strategy. 

Pash joins Cushman & Wakefield from The Shopping Center Group, where she was vice president and worked with retailers across the U.S. and Europe.

Previously, Pash was a senior executive at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield in London for more than a decade, overseeing leasing strategy for two of Europe's premier retail destinations, Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City. Prior to her time in London, Pash was vice-president of leasing for Westfield America.

Senior management shuffle at Scotiabank

Scotiabank (BNS-T) has made a series of senior management moves, including the appointment of Anique Asher as executive vice-president, real estate secured lending. Asher will also represent Scotiabank on the board of the Canadian Bankers Association, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Asher has over two decades of senior experience across finance, strategy, investor relations and capital management, and was previously head of the strategy and operating group. She takes over from Tracy Gomes, who has been named executive vice-president and chief risk officer, Canadian banking, global wealth management and credit risk.

Elsewhere at the bank, Phil Thomas was named group head and chief strategy and operating officer; Shannon McGinnis is the new chief risk officer; and Meigan Terry was appointed EVP and chief global corporate and public affairs officer.

Gentry new director at Impact Development Group

Impact Development Group (IMPT-X) has appointed Keenan Gentry as a director of the company, which is registered in Canada but operates in Panama.

Gentry brings more than a decade of experience in capital markets, corporate development and investment analysis to the firm. 

He currently serves as vice-president, investments at Dale Ventures Canada Inc., a global strategic investment and venture capital firm. Previously, Gentry advised early-stage businesses as a co-founder of Jaeger Strategic Advisors, following several years in corporate development and investment analyst roles. 

He holds a bachelor of science in finance from Niagara University and is a CFA charterholder.

He joins Thomas Wenz, Sophie Galper-Komet, Joshua Lebovic and Oscar Hilt Tatum on the Impact board.

Arbuckle leads Arcadis in Toronto

Scott Arbuckle has been promoted to city executive for Toronto by design and engineering firm Arcadis and has overseen his first strategic alliance deal, with Spanier Group.

Spanier Group is a Toronto-based real estate advisory and development firm specializing in mixed-use real estate developments. 

Arbuckle’s appointment is part of Arcadis’ Global Cities Program. Formerly the eastern business unit director for Arcadis Canada’s Architecture and Urbanism business, he will now focus on strategic growth initiatives, pursue new business development opportunities and partnerships and oversee client relationships in Toronto and the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

Arbuckle brings nearly 30 years of experience in land development and urban planning. He is a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute.

Prior to joining Arcadis, Arbuckle was the Canada east regional director for IBI Group, which was acquired by Arcadis in 2022.  

Lennard opens Vancouver office, names two partners

Lennard Commercial Realty has opened its new Vancouver office led by partners Allon Shapiro and Aaron Ulinder. Both are veteran industry professionals with deep local experience who will oversee the growth of Lennard’s presence in British Columbia. 

Shapiro will be partner and managing broker in Vancouver, while Ulinder takes the titles of partner and executive vice-president.

Among Shapiro’s recent accomplishments are the $33-million sale of Powell River Town Centre; the $28.2-million sale of Windsor Square Mall; and, the $148-million sale in 2022 of the Coquitlam College property, a seven-acre high-density residential development site.

Ulinder’s recent highlights include representing Yorkville University on a consolidation strategy bringing seven Ontario sites together in a purpose-built 90,000-sq.-ft. facility at 120 Bloor St. E.; leading the expansion of Burnaby defence tech company OSI Maritime Systems headquarters to approximately 65,000-sq.-ft.; and, acting as national real estate advisor for Axis Insurance in moving its Vancouver head office to 1055 Dunsmuir St. in Bentall Four.