Morley Fund Management, one of the UK’s largest fund managers, has boosted the European capability of its property research team by appointing Patrizia Grandone as European property researcher and Francesc Fages as property fund analyst. Both report to Nick Mansley, head of property strategy and research.
Morley Fund Management, one of the UK’s largest fund managers, has boosted the European capability of its property research team by appointing Patrizia Grandone as European property researcher and Francesc Fages as property fund analyst. Both report to Nick Mansley, head of property strategy and research.
Patrizia joined on 8 December from LaSalle Investment Management where she was southern european analyst. She has an MSc in property development and planning and prior to this she was an interior design consultant working on various projects across the UK for seven years. At Morley she will be focusing on market research and advising on specific property investments as well as supporting the development of new funds.
Francesc joined on 6 December from the London School of Economics where he has recently completed an MSc in Real Estate Economics. He has also undertaken a corporate finance programme at the London Business School and an MBA at the ESADE business school in Barcelona. Previously he worked as an engineer and project manager in France and Spain for seven years following an engineering degree from university in Barcelona. At Morley, Francesc will be involved in the fund modelling of European and UK specialist property funds.
These appointments follow Morley’s announcement in August 2004 that it would build on its successful UK property fund management business in continental Europe, investing up to Ł1 billion in continental European Property and actively seek partners for new funds. Ben Stirling was appointed as European fund manager to develop new European property funds and manage them. Since then Julian Taylor has joined the firm as assistant European fund manager and John Buckley joined to support the top-down assessment of European markets. These two additional roles boost the European support and capability within the property strategy team.
Commenting on the appointments, Nick Mansley, head of property strategy and research, said: "The addition of Patrizia and Francesc to the team strengthens our research and analysis capability for continental European property. Our key priorities for new investment are in the main western and southern European markets and Patrizia and Francesc will support our activity and ability to work with partners in these markets."
Within Europe, Morley launched the Parkridge European Distribution Fund in September 2004 which invests in distribution warehousing in central Europe. Last month it agreed to invest €100m and be actively involved in the management of Pillar’s European Retail Park Fund.
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For further information please contact:
Laura Cook, Corporate Communications Executive 020 7809 8125
Morley Fund Management
Notes to Editors
Morley Property
- The property team at Morley Fund Management manages in excess of Ł14 billion of UK and European Property assets, making Morley one of the largest property fund managers in Europe. Winners of the high profile Property Week Fund Manager of the Year Award 2004, the team consists of 50 investment professionals managing a range of funds, including segregated and pooled pensions, two retail unit trusts, and eleven specialist sector based funds with partners.
Morley Fund Management
- Morley Fund Management (‘Morley’) is an independently managed, London based, asset management business with over Ł118 billion* under management (as at 30.09.04). It actively manages a diverse range of asset classes and employs in the region of 200 investment professionals based in London, Singapore and an associate office in Boston**.
- Morley is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Aviva Group and manages both institutional and retail funds under the Morley brand. It also acts as investment manager for a range of retail investment funds, marketed in the UK by Norwich Union, and international funds marketed under the Aviva Funds brand.
*Not including mortgage assets
**Morley Fund Management International Limited, an Aviva company
Awards
- Property Week Awards 2004 – Best Property Fund Manager
- Pensions Management Provider Awards 2003 – Best Property Fund Manager
- Fund Manager of the Year - Pensions Week Awards 2002
- Specialist Manager of the Year - UK Pensions Awards 2002
- Insurance Fund Manager of the Year (awarded to Norwich Union) - Standard and Poor’s 2002
- Sustainable and Ethical Investment and Asset Management Award - Liveable City Awards 2002
- Further information about Morley Fund Management can be found at www.morleyfm.com