Hazelview Investments has named Ted Welter as the company's executive chairman, bringing a longtime senior executive with over 35 years of experience to the position.

Welter offers expertise in alternative investments, including real estate investment and portfolio management, and business development.

As former managing director and chief investment officer of alternative investments at TD Asset Management (formerly Greystone Managed Investments Inc.), he led all aspects of the alternative investments business and drove growth of the organization's assets under management from $200 million to $34 billion.

"We are excited to welcome Ted Welter to Hazelview," said Ugo Bizzarri, Hazelview's managing partner and chief executive officer. "Ted's extensive expertise, strategic thinking and proven ability to drive ambitious outcomes will help guide Hazelview as we continue to grow."

Welter will provide strategic counsel to the CEO and executive team, leading Hazelview's new advisory committee, as well as advising on corporate strategy.

Altberg becomes EVP at Beedie

Elliott Altberg has been named executive vice-president, Eastern Canada, for Beedie. Altman will lead the company’s Toronto office in all facets of its operations in the region.

He joins Beedie with almost 20 years and more than $80 billion of transaction experience in real estate capital markets, private equity/pension fund investments, property brokerage and corporate mergers and acquisitions. 

Most recently, Altberg was a partner and head of investments at Crestpoint Real Estate Investments, Ltd.

Brand becomes CIO, Legg takes ESG role at Concert

Concert Properties has hired Lindsay Brand to be its chief investment officer, effective April 2. Brand brings a diverse range of development and investment experience across a variety of asset classes.

She held increasingly senior roles during 10 years at the Dream group of companies and throughout her tenure participated in the strategic growth of five public companies.

As chief investment officer of Dream Unlimited and Dream Impact Trust she led over $2 billion of acquisitions and structured over $3 billion of development partnerships.

Previously, she financed development deals at the real estate commercial banking group and corporate development group of a major Canadian financial institution.

She will lead a national team responsible for the income-producing property portfolio, including acquisitions, dispositions, asset and fund management, leasing and property management. She will also oversee the Concert Income Properties fund.

She holds a BA and honours business administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business and a master's of science in real estate development from Columbia University.

Concert also named Ruth Legg its vice-president, environment, social and governance. She will join Concert March 26 after two decades of experience as an executive ESG leader.

Legg spent a decade in financial services, most recently as Americas head of supply chain sustainability and diversity at HSBC.

She has been recognized as one of Canada’s ESG leaders for her contributions towards a low-carbon, clean economy, winning the 2017 Emerging Leader award from Clean50. 

Her educational background includes a BA in communications, English and liberal arts from Simon Fraser University and MA in community and regional planning from UBC.

Teachers' names three new executives

Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board has appointed new leaders to oversee its capital markets, total fund management and global investment strategy investment departments.

• Bernard Grzinic becomes executive managing director, capital markets, responsible for overseeeing the capital markets department. He is an experienced investment professional with over 25 years at Ontario Teachers', holding progressively more senior roles, most recently overseeing the fund's credit investments. He holds a BA in economics from Wilfrid Laurier University and is a CFA.
• Steve Saldanha takes over as executive managing director, total fund management, leading Teachers' overall asset mix, managing its trading activities and integrating portfolio construction with treasury and funding capabilities. He also brings over 25 years of expertise, including almost 20 years at Ontario Teachers'. Saldanha holds a BA in applied economics from University of Waterloo and a master's degree in economics from University of Toronto and is a CFA.
• Robert Sturgeon has been named senior managing director, global investment strategy, responsible for assessing the global business environment, developing strategic responses and cultivating strategic relationships. Since joining Ontario Teachers' in 2017, Sturgeon has held progressively senior roles. He previously spent over 17 years investing in private markets via private equity, venture capital and infrastructure fund investing globally. He holds a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Victoria and is a CFA.

Turri new president at Mission Group

Mission Group has announced three significant leadership changes, including president and co-founder Randy Shier moving to chief product officer to build toward a key component in the firm’s long-term vision. In his new role, Shier will focus on developing stronger and more diverse product offerings..

Luke Turri becomes president, moving up from his previous role as executive vice-president. Turri has been mentored by co-founders Shier and CEO Jonathan Friesen over the past 12 years. 

Turri joined Mission Group as a development manager after several years as an urban planner with the City of Kelowna. In the past five years as EVP, Turri has also chaired the Urban Development Institute (UDI) Okanagan chapter.

Mission Group also promoted Steve Abel to chief financial officer. Since joining the company in 2018, Abel has steadily moved up the executive ranks from controller to, most recently, vice-president of finance.

Greenspan adds new role at Terra Firma

Toronto-based Terra Firma Capital Corporation has announced the appointment of Seth Greenspan as president and CEO in the wake of the company’s acquisition and privatization by GM Capital Corp.

The announcement coincides with Terra Firma moving its corporate headquarters to 970 Lawrence Ave. Greenspan and Y. Dov Meyer are the owners of GM Capital.

Rullier named at EVP at Colliers Montreal

Joe Rullier has been promoted to executive vice-president at Colliers in Montreal. Rullier has spent the past four years at Colliers, most recently as a senior vice-president.

Prior to joining Colliers, he spent almost 12 years at Cushman & Wakefield after a 14-year career as a professional hockey player. Rullier is a graduate of New York University and holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate.

Strati named EVP at Lennard Toronto

Lennard Commercial Realty has promoted Cathy Strati to the role of executive vice-president at its Toronto office leasing division. 

Strati has shown an ability to navigate complex lease transactions and develop unique real estate strategies and solutions for her clients during her over 11 years at Lennard.

Previously she spent about five years at Cushman & Wakefield after starting her commercial real estate career with Cresa Partners.

De Iaco becomes public director at Calgary REB

The Calgary Real Estate Board has appointed Marco De Iaco to its board as the first public director.  

De Iaco is a graduate of the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary and the executive program at Queen’s Smith School of Business.

He is the former executive director of the Calgary Downtown Association, as well as the vice-president of sport, culture and major Events at Tourism Calgary.