Switzerland-based private equity firm Partners Group has hired Karim Habra to work alongside Mike Bryant, its current head of real estate.
The move comes as the company further scales up its real estate business globally, which currently has $17bn (£13.4bn) in assets under management, as it sees investing potential within the asset class, with higher relative value in alternative and operational real estate, as well as the logistics and residential sectors.
In the UK, the firm is working alongside Host Student Housing in a £1bn student accommodation and co-living joint venture, as well as seeking a partner for a debut in life sciences sector. Partners Group also holds a 3.6m sq ft portfolio of industrial assets across the West Midlands, Yorkshire and the North West.
Habra comes from Ivanhoé Cambridge, the real estate investment arm of Canadian pension fund CDPQ, where he was head of Europe and Asia-Pacific and global head of strategic partnerships.
Before joining Ivanhoé Cambridge in 2018, Habra held various senior positions at La Salle Investment Management. He has also worked at JER Partners and GE Capital.
Habra will be based at Partners Group’s headquarters in Zug, Switzerland, and will assume his role as co-head of real estate in mid-March.
Juri Jenkner, president and co-head of investments at Partners Group, said: “Private markets are set to play a fundamental role in transforming real estate assets to meet the trends of decarbonisation, shifting consumer preferences and digitisation. Karim’s experience will be valuable as we look to identify opportunities globally and build real estate portfolios.”
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