Christoph Schumacher, global head of real assets, private markets at Manulife Investment Management. (Courtesy Manulife)

Manulife Investment Management has named Christoph Schumacher global head of real assets, private markets. In this newly created position, he will be responsible for defining the private real assets strategy and managing the operations and development, launch, and growth of investment solutions.

The role unites Manulife’s real asset capabilities across real estate, infrastructure, timber and agriculture, all of which have been key drivers of diversification offering sustainable and nature-based solutions. Schumacher will oversee US$42.9 billion worth of global AUM and the heads of each of Manulife’s real asset teams will report directly to him.

Schumacher brings extensive experience to Manulife, having led global institutional real estate and infrastructure strategies in previous roles. In his most recent position, he served as global head of real estate and managing director at Credit Suisse Asset Management.

Schumacher plans to relocate to Boston and reports to Steve Blewitt.

QuadReal hires two senior executives

QuadReal has announced two senior management hires, including Jameson Weber as managing director, international real estate, Americas.

Weber joined QuadReal in 2018 as its first U.S.-based hire, establishing the New York City office and acting as managing director, head of special situations. Weber will now oversee investment activities in the Americas across all property types. His focus will be the U.S. portfolio, which represents 23 per cent of QuadReal’s global business and is expected to grow to 35 per cent by 2025.

Jameson Weber, managing director, international real estate, Americas at Quadreal. (Courtesy Quadreal)

Prior to joining QuadReal, Weber was a founding team member of proptech firm Hightower (now VTS), and held various investment roles at Oaktree Capital Management, Cerberus Capital Management and Morgan Stanley. Weber holds a B.S. in business administration from the University of Southern California.

Michael Zea has assumed the role of executive vice-president and operating partner to lead QuadReal’s new Operating Partner Group. Zea will report directly to CEO Dennis Lopez.

Prior to joining QuadReal, Zea held senior strategy roles in U.S. and Canadian companies. Previously, he was a partner at McKinsey & Company and at Oliver Wyman. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and a B.S. from Purdue University.

Zea will be based in New York.

CRE veteran Zalter added to MTY board

MTY Food Group Inc. (MTY-T), a franchisor and operator of multiple restaurant banners worldwide, has appointed Suzan Zalter to its board of directors.

Zalter brings 28 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry across North America. She is an established commercial real estate consultant, working with a wide array of retailers developing market penetration and portfolio optimization strategies.

Zalter holds a bachelor of science from Concordia University in Montreal and is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers. She is vice-president, advisory services, at Oberfeld Snowcap, a commercial real estate consulting firm in Montreal with offices in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.

Her nomination follows the resignation of David Wong from the board in March.

Mordaunt new Colliers RE Management V-P

Colliers Real Estate Management Services has hired 20-year industry veteran Nathan Mordaunt as vice-president, portfolio management.

Mordaunt has a proven track record in sustainability, major property revitalization, capital program delivery and lease negotiations. He will be responsible for ensuring service excellence while strengthening client relationships and facilitating growth opportunities.

He brings two decades of leasing, property and portfolio management experience to the new role. Over his career, Mordaunt has led teams in progressively senior management positions at major class-A office assets for Oxford Properties, Cadillac Fairview, Wittington Properties and Choice Properties REIT.

Mordaunt will be based in Toronto.

Two real estate executives join Tanger

Tanger Factory Outlet Centers has added two senior executives to its real estate team: Steve Dworkin as senior vice-president of real estate and Steven Silverstein as assistant vice-president of leasing. In these roles, Dworkin will be responsible for real estate and new development, while Silverstein will oversee leasing strategy and new development.

Dworkin brings over 20 years of experience across large-scale real estate development and acquisition throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Asia to his role. He has expertise in new shopping centre development and proven success monetizing excess land.

Silverstein’s more than 30 years of industry experience will be key to driving prospecting for a new variety of Tanger tenants. Previously, he oversaw a diverse group of major retail and commercial portfolios, including Brookfield Properties and Cousins Properties.

Henley promoted to CIO at Fronsac

Fronsac REIT (FRO-UN-X) has promoted Kevin Henley to the new role of chief investment officer, effective June 1.

Henley has been in his current role of chief financial officer since November 2017. In the new role, he will have an increased focus on the trust’s existing and new investments.

Fronsac has also named Ben Gazith to Henley’s former role of chief financial officer. Gazith has been with Fronsac for just over a year and assumes responsibility for the financial reporting cycle.

WWC adds Breakspear in new role

Western Wealth Capital (WWC) has hired Mark Breakspear to the new position of vice-president, fund operations and distribution.

Breakspear will lead a new mutual fund trust that will launch in June 2021, as well as associated capital-raising efforts. His experience in the IIROC, MFDA and EMD regulatory environments as well as his senior sales management experience set Breakspear up well to navigate the balance required to bring WWC into new channels.

Breakspear’s career has spanned 16 years with senior level roles ranging from Big 6 Banks to boutique wealth management and insurance firms. He has led projects that include compliance, sales strategies and enterprise-wide technology for thousands of registered investment professionals nationally.

He was most recently SVP and chief compliance officer for a Vancouver exempt market dealership/asset management corporation where he provided oversight for the operations, sales and regulatory audits at the firm.

Mack acting CFO at Yorkton

Yorkton Equity Group Inc. (YEG-X) has elevated DeEtte Mack, its current controller and corporate secretary, as the acting chief financial officer. Mack, a CPA and CA, has 15 years of public company experience which includes her roles in the capacities of CFO, VP finance and controller.

Mack replaces Evan Chan, who resigned as the chief financial officer and as a director of the board to begin his long-planned retirement.