Palmer Capital has drafted in industry veteran Nick Cooper to help expand its fund management business.
The former ING Real Estate boss is joining the investment and asset management group as a director and deputy chairman, working alongside chairman and founder Ray Palmer and chief executive Alex Price.
Cooper will take up his post on 1 September after four years with the $150bn (£90bn) Townsend Group, where he was a principal in the investment manager’s London office before relocating to the US.
During his time with Townsend he oversaw the development of its European and Asian businesses. Cooper now plans to leverage these global connections to help build Palmer’s segregated mandate business.
The firm plans to target sovereign wealth to boost its circa £650m of AUM. It hopes to launch more vehicles following its joint venture with CBRE Global Multi Manager in June to create a £250m opportunistic fund.
Cooper’s remit to help oversee the growth of the business includes supporting Palmer’s nine UK property companies and developing its investment relations team.
At ING Cooper spent 10 years building up its multi-manager platform.
bridget.o’connell@estatesgazette.com
