Sam Sananes, senior portfolio manager at UBS Asset Management, has died aged 40 after a short period of illness.
He was most recently portfolio manager of the UBS Central London Office Value Added Fund (UBS-CLOVA), which became the strongest performing unlisted real estate fund in the UK before its termination in September.
He is survived by his wife and two young children.
Sananes drove a number of significant transactions in London, most notably the preletting and subsequent sale of the 540,000 sq ft Watermark Place, EC4, and the preletting of 160 Blackfriars Road, SE1, which became the last property sold by UBS-CLOVA.
Additionally, he was involved with transactions for other UBS-AM vehicles seeking exposure to London offices. He was also part of the senior management team, sitting on the UK investment committee as well as the lending committee for UBS-AM’s UK real estate debt fund.
Before joining UBS, Sananes worked at ING Real Estate Investment Management between 2002 and 2005 as an assistant fund manager.
Outside of his work, Sananes dedicated his time and effort not only to his family and friends, but to charitable causes. He was a member of the committee for the Microscope Ball – an annual property industry event in aid of Muscular Dystrophy UK – for seven years and chairing it for four and through his efforts helped to raise more than £300,000 for the event. He also ran the London Marathon for the charity several times, including once dressed as Big Ben. Originally from Leicester, Sananes was an avid rugby and football fan, supporting both Leicester Tigers rugby club and Leicester City Football Club, revelling in the latter’s title-winning English Premier League campaign last year.
Paying tribute, his UBS colleagues said: “He was a great source of inspiration to many and no doubt will be remembered for the commitment, passion and determination he brought to his work, as well as for his good humour and friendship.”
To send a tribute, e-mail Louisa.Clarence-Smith@egi.co.uk or tweet @LouisaClarence or @estatesgazette
