Simon Holmes has been appointed BGO’s chief investment officer in Canada and chair of the company’s Canadian investment management committee. Along with his new responsibilities overseeing real estate transactions in Canada, he will retain his current position as portfolio manager, and remain actively involved in investor relations and capital raising activities.

“Simon is an exceptionally talented and strategic leader with a sophisticated understanding of commercial real estate and a strong track record of delivering for our investors,” says Christina Iacoucci, managing partner and BGO’s Canadian head. “His elevation to chief investment officer reflects our confidence in his ability to drive our investment activity in Canada, which is a cornerstone of our vertically integrated platform.”

Holmes draws on more than 20 years of experience in a broad range of key real estate activities, including investments, portfolio and asset management, joint-venture structuring, capital raising and client relations, governance and research. He launched his career with BGO in 2003 then spent a 10-year interim with CPP Investments before rejoining BGO in 2016.

“I am honoured to lead our Canadian investment team,” he says. “I look forward to contributing to the growth of the business in Canada with ingenuity, integrity and an unrelenting focus on client service.”