31 January 2012
SWIP (Scottish Widows Investment Partnership) has strengthened its highly-regarded 50-strong Real Estate team with six internal promotions and the external appointment of Geoff Hepburn as Investment Manager.
Geoff Hepburn joined SWIP in January from Hartwell, a privately owned property company in the South East of England, where he was Development and Investment Manager and responsible for prime Central London developments. Based in Edinburgh, Geoff reports to Nick Ireland and is primarily responsible for the management of the Halifax Investment Fund Managers Limited1 (HIFML) property fund.
In addition to the appointment of Geoff, the team has also been strengthened by six internal promotions.
Promoted from Investment Manager to Investment Director are:
- Ross Braithwaite
Ross joined SWIP in September 2003 and manages the recently launched SWIP/CWI Pan European Urban Retail Fund, a Luxembourg domiciled fund investing in urban retail property in France, Germany and Sweden.
- Paul Findlay
Paul joined SWIP in 2007 and is responsible for managing the SWIP European Balanced Property Fund.
- Veronica Gallo-Alvarez
Veronica joined SWIP as an Investment Manager in June 2011. Veronica manages the Clerical Medical Non Sterling Sarl property fund with assets in France, Spain and Belgium.
- Kerri Hunter
Kerri joined SWIP in August 2003 and is Deputy Fund Manager of the £2.3bn SWIP Property Trust (SWIPPT), a title she has held since 2010.
- James McLean
Since joining SWIP in December 2002, James has progressed to become the Lead Fund Manager for the Scottish Widows Unit Funds Pensions (SWUF) Ltd.
- Nick Smith
Nick joined SWIP in 2004 and manages the Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust (AIPUT), a specialist property trust managing approximately £420m of assets.
In their new roles as Investment Directors: Ross, Paul and Veronica will join the International Real Estate Investment Committee; whilst Kerri, James and Nick will sit on the UK Real Estate Investment Committee.
Malcolm Naish, Director of Real Estate, SWIP, comments:-
“2011 was a year of substantial growth for SWIP’s Real Estate team as we saw our assets under management increase by almost 40%, from £6.1bn in 2010 to £8.5bn2 in 2011. As we continue to grow, it is necessary to resource our business appropriately; I am therefore delighted to welcome Geoff Hepburn to the team.
“In addition to bringing new talent to the business, it is also essential to recognise the hard-work and commitment shown by our existing colleagues.
“I would like to congratulate Ross, Paul, Veronica, Kerri, James and Nick on being promoted to the role of Investment Director.
“The strength, stability and calibre of our team will ensure SWIP’s real estate business continues to grow in 2012 and will help us achieve our ambitious growth plans and provide superior returns for our investors.”
- Ends -
Notes to Editors
1 Halifax Investment Fund Managers Limited (HIFML) property fund is a balanced fund sold through Lloyds Banking Group to wholesale investors.
2 SWIP saw its real estate assets swell to £8.5bn following the announcement that it had been appointed to manage £2.4bn in new assets on behalf of the Insurance Division of Lloyds Banking Group. These assets were transferred from Invista to SWIP in May 2011.
Photographs of Ross Braithwaite, Paul Findlay, Veronica Gallo-Alvarez, Kerri Hunter, James McLean, Nick Smith and Geoff Hepburn are available on request.
Scottish Widows Investment Partnership
- SWIP’s ultimate parent is Lloyds Banking Group, one of the largest financial services groups in the UK.
- SWIP has a geographically diverse client base with alliances and clients in the UK, across Europe, USA and Japan.
- SWIP is one of the UK and Europe’s largest fund managers with £139.9bn funds under management (Source: Internal, as at 31 December 2011).
- SWIP has a broad client base, managing assets for Pension Funds, Charities, Local Authorities, Life Funds, Unit Trusts, OEICs, Off-Shore Funds and Specialist Funds across all major asset classes.
- SWIP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and is entered on their register under number 193707 (www.fsa.gov.uk).
- Investment markets and conditions can change rapidly and as such the views expressed should not be taken as statements of fact nor should reliance be placed on these views when making investment decisions. Past performance is not a guide to the future.
