George Van Noten, the new chief operating officer for Minto Properties Inc. (Courtesy Minto)

Minto Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust (MI-UN-T) has named George Van Noten as chief operating officer and Glen MacMullin as chief investment officer.

They will take on many of the duties of president and COO Rob Pike, who will retire Nov. 1 after 38 years in the industry. Pike spent the past eight years with The Minto Group.

”On behalf of the board of trustees and everyone at the REIT, I salute Rob for his contribution to the creation and early success of the REIT,” said CEO Michael Waters in a release. “His experience and steady hand helped ensure that the first year of the REIT would exceed expectations.”

Van Noten, with over 25 years of industry experience, moves up from senior vice-president of operations. Among other initiatives, he was responsible for the successful overhaul of the operating platform that resulted in improved revenue, market share, customer service/retention and employee engagement.

Prior to joining Minto in 2006, he held increasingly senior roles with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Delta Hotels and Canadian Pacific Hotels.

MacMullin has 20 years of investment experience, the last decade with Minto Properties where he led asset management and investment management functions.

Prior to joining Minto in 2008, MacMullin worked with Deutsche Bank in New York and The Cayman Islands. MacMullin will oversee the REIT’s asset management and investment activities.

“Both George and Glen are highly accomplished and long-serving executives,” Waters said in the release.

“The experience they bring and the success they have demonstrated in their previous roles ensures that the REIT will move forward seamlessly as we enter our second year as a publicly traded entity.”

Tanzola asset management head at Greybrook

Greybrook Realty Partners Inc. has added Greg Tanzola as executive director, asset management to oversee its real estate development assets.

A highly regarded development and management executive with over 20 years of experience, Tanzola joins Greybrook from Sorbara Group where he began his career in 1998 and rose to executive vice-president.

At Sorbara Group, he was responsible for management of land acquisition, development, home-building and high-rise operations.

A board member on both the Residential Construction Council of Ontario and Metro Toronto Apartment Builders Association, Tanzola has built many strong industry relationships.

“Greg brings to the team critical experience and deep knowledge in residential real estate development in Ontario, an asset class and region in which we will continue to heavily weigh our investments,” said Chris Salapoutis, president and COO of Greybrook, in a release.

Tanzola holds a Master’s Degree in planning and Bachelor’s Degree in urban & economic geography, both from the University of Toronto.

Plaza names new CFO

Plaza Retail REIT (PLZ-UN-T) has appointed Jim Drake as chief financial officer. Drake has 17 years of strategic and financial management experience at Plaza, most recently as vice-president of finance.

He has been involved in all aspects of financial strategy, planning, analysis and risk management.

“Jim’s experience with, and knowledge of, the REIT make him a great fit for this role,” said Michael Zakuta, president & CEO of Plaza, in the announcement.

“His dedication and extensive financial experience in real estate will help drive the continued success and strategic vision of Plaza into the future.”

Drake’s appointment coincides with the retirement from Plaza of Floriana Cipollone, the REIT’s CFO since 2010.

“I would also like to thank Floriana for her contributions to Plaza,” Zakuta said in the statement.

“As a valued and trusted member of our executive team for the past nine years, Floriana has contributed to Plaza’s growing track record of success and value creation. We wish her all the best.”

Drake holds both CPA and CGA certifications.

John G. Crombie rejoins C&W

John G. Crombie has rejoined CRE services firm Cushman & Wakefield as executive managing director of retail services for Canada.

He’ll be tasked with growing C&W’s Canadian retail platform, including strengthening the retail tenant representation and agency leasing service lines.

Crombie brings more than 25 years of experience, most recently as managing director of a boutique CRE consulting firm. Prior to that, Crombie was a senior vice-president at Triovest Realty Advisors responsible for its four-million-square-foot Canadian retail portfolio.

Crombie cut his teeth in the business with a 16-year tenure at Cushman & Wakefield, holding various executive positions in Toronto and Edmonton.

“With the impact of e-commerce and changing consumer demands, the retail industry is undergoing a radical transformation and renaissance that will have a material shift for shopping centre real estate and design of physical stores for retailers in the future,” said Crombie.

He is an active member of ICSC, including a director for the ICSC Foundation and is the 2019 co-chair for ICSC’s Canadian convention.

Crombie has been acknowledged as one of the top 20 influencers in the World of Real Estate in Canada and one of six worldwide recipients of the Global Medallion ICSC Award for contributions to retail research in Canada.

CIU appoints Rowe new president

Mary Rowe is the president and CEO at the Canadian Urban Institute. (Courtesy CUI)

The Canadian Urban Institute has appointed Mary W. Rowe as its seventh president and chief executive officer.

Rowe is a leading urban advocate and civil society leader who has worked in cities across Canada and the United States.

She has been a frequent contributor to national and international city-building programs, including UN Habitat and the World Urban Forum.

Rowe brings an extensive international network of practitioners from government, industry, community activism and the city-building professions to strengthen CUI under her leadership.

New managing director at CBRE in B.C.

Jason Kiselbach has taken over as senior vice-president, managing director at CBRE’s Vancouver and Victoria offices. This follows the announcement Norm Taylor will leave the firm after five years as executive vice-president, managing director in B.C.

“We congratulate Jason on his new role. We have one of the industry’s best young leaders driving the next phase of growth and raising the bar on real estate services in B.C.,” said Werner Dietl, president and CEO of CBRE in Canada, in a release.

Kiselbach has been with CBRE since starting his career in 2008 and has become one of its top industrial brokers. He became the Vancouver sales manager in 2018.

Waters promoted at GWLRA

Wendy Waters has been promoted to vice-president of research services and strategy at GWL Realty Advisors. During a 13-year tenure at GWLRA in its Vancouver office, Waters has held a variety of increasingly senior positions.

She will now lead the research services and strategy team, providing analysis and proprietary research to support the firm’s Canadian and global real estate investment goals. The firm focuses on office, multiresidential, industrial and retail assets.

Waters was previously the senior director of research services and strategy.

Belina heads JLL’s Montreal tenant rep team

JLL has hired Michael Belina as senior vice-president to its tenant representation group in Montreal. Belina joins JLL from Cushman & Wakefield, where he was vice-president of leasing and investments.

With 12 years of experience, Belina’s track record includes more than 250 lease negotiations yielding a transactional value of over a $500 million.

An advocate for social awareness and sustainable real estate, Belina encourages eco-energy developments and has obtained the LEED Green Accreditation.