Fonds de solidarité FTQ has appointed Martin Raymond president and CEO of its real estate subsidiary, the Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ. He succeeds Normand Bélanger, who led the organization for the past 14 years.

Raymond was promoted from his previous role as senior vice-president, real estate investments, which he has held since 2020.

He has over 25 years of experience in real estate, spanning the areas of investment, strategic development, valuation and asset management involving projects across Canada, as well as in Europe and emerging countries. 

He has steadily risen up the managerial ranks, holding roles as vice-president, acquisition and asset management, and senior director, in companies such as Kevlar, Cushman & Wakefield and Ivanhoé Cambridge.

Raymond is a regular participant in public forums and advisory committees. 

He also served on the IDU board of directors from 2017-'23. 

A chartered appraiser recognized by the Ordre des évaluateurs agréés du Québec and the Appraisal Institute of Canada, he earned an undergraduate degree from ESG-UQAM and holds an executive MBA in real estate.

Stuart Wilson new president at Alterra 

Toronto’s Alterra Group of Companies has named Stuart Wilson as president. Wilson brings a wealth of expertise to the role, most recently as Alterra’s chief operating officer, where his financial acumen played a key role in the company's growth. 

Prior to joining Alterra, Wilson and Robert Cooper, Alterra's CEO, had worked together for many years, further solidifying their professional partnership. Wilson’s appointment and succession is a strategic move in a long-term transition. 

Cooper remains deeply entrenched in the progression of Alterra, supporting Wilson in his role.

Savoie, Poladian join Killam board

Killam Apartment REIT (KMP-UN-T) announced the appointments of Andrée Savoie and Shant Poladian to the trust’s board of trustees.

Savoie is the president and CEO of Acadian Properties Limited, a commercial real estate development and property management company in the Maritime provinces.

Savoie has served on various boards, including National Bank of Canada, Assumption Mutual Life Insurance Company, Athletics New Brunswick, Greater Moncton YMCA Foundation and Efficiency Nouveau Brunswick. Her director positions also include chairing the board of directors of Assumption Mutual Life Insurance Company.

She holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from McGill University and a master’s in applied sciences (specializing in environmental engineering) from the University of Ottawa. Savoie also holds the Institute of Corporate Directors, director designation.

Poladian is a senior real estate and capital markets professional with over two decades of experience.

He is managing director of Springhurst Capital Corp. and CEO/co-founder of Junction Realty Partners Inc., a boutique private equity and real estate firm. Previously, Poladian was the CEO of FAM REIT (now known as Slate Office REIT).

He has been involved with several public companies, including Canaccord Genuity as a managing director of real estate/REIT equity research analyst, Huntingdon Capital Corp. as a senior executive, and Amica Mature Lifestyles Inc. as an independent director. Poladian holds a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Toronto, CPA and CA (Ontario) designations and a US CPA (Delaware) certificate.

Malhotra to head up real estate at Scotiabank

The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS-T) is promoting its chief financial officer, Sumit Malhotra, to become its head of real estate and secured lending when John Webster retires later this year.

Malhotra, who has risen through the ranks from his early days as an analyst, will take the reins Aug. 8. He has been Scotiabank’s Canadian banking division CFO for the past three years after working for seven years as a senior researcher.

Prior to joining Scotiabank, he held roles with Macquarie Capital Markets and Merrill Lynch Canada.

Webster has led Scotiabank’s mortgage business since its 2006 purchase of Maple Trust, where he had been CEO.

Klaff to become Avison Young’s U.S. president

Harry Klaff is being promoted to president of Avison Young’s U.S. operations. Klaff has extensive experience and knowledge within the firm and the commercial real estate industry, having worked closely with its CEO, principals and executive team. 

Since joining Avison Young in October 2020 as president of clients, Klaff has successfully led the client engagement platform. He will continue to operate out of Washington, D.C., overseeing the firm’s U.S. markets and leading its 2,000-plus employees. 

Klaff succeeds Juan Bueno, who is leaving the firm for a new opportunity after holding the job for the past two years.

New leadership at IPSO FACTO

IPSO FACTO real estate investment founder Serge Robitaille has made major changes to its organizational structure as part of a long-term succession plan.

Éric C. de Léry, the firm’s vice-president of investments since 2011 and a partner since 2016, becomes co-president with Jean-Philippe Dubé.

Léry has risen through the ranks at IPSO FACTO thanks to his management of the office team and development of professional relationships with investors and promoters.

Dubé is returning to familiar territory, having previously worked as investment director with the company from 2011 to 2014. He most recently held the position of senior vice-president and fund manager, development, at a major institution.

Robitaille will remain active with the company and maintain his role as chairman of the investment committee.

Stonebridge makes executive changes

Stonebridge Financial Corporation has made a series of executive leadership changes as the firm broadens its investment focus.

Cam Di Giorgio and Daniel Simunac have been named co-chief executive officers, while Cormac Mac Lochlainn has been appointed executive vice-president. Co-founder Robert M. Colliver becomes executive chair while continuing to oversee debt funds and separately managed accounts.

Di Giorgio joined Stonebridge in 2009 and has since held progressively senior positions, most recently as executive vice-president. He leads the firm's project finance business in the areas of renewable power, infrastructure and long-term care in the seniors housing sector. 

He has over 35 years of industry experience including prior roles at Sun Life Financial, CIT Structured Finance/Newcourt Capital and Canada Life.

Simunac joins Stonebridge from Raymond James Bank, where he served as principal officer and country head for Canada, a platform he founded in 2012.

There, he specialized in lending to commercial and institutional borrowers across Canada and the United States focusing on real estate & REITs, renewable power & infrastructure and founder-owned, publicly traded and sponsor-backed businesses. 

He brings over 20 years of industry experience with prior roles at Allied Irish Bank Canada, TD Securities/TD Bank, Sun Life Financial and Travelers Canada.

Mac Lochlainn also joins Stonebridge from Raymond James Bank Canada, where he was senior vice-president, corporate and real estate banking.

Chester to succeed Higgs as CFO at Invesque

Invesque Inc. (IVQ-U-T) announced Adlai Chester will assume the chief financial officer role in addition to leading the company's investment group. 

Chester has more than 20 years of finance, real estate, investment, development and capital markets experience, and has positioned himself as a leader in the health-care real estate industry. 

Prior to his current role at Invesque, he served as chief financial officer of HealthLease Properties. 

Current CFO Scott Higgs is resigning effective Aug. 1 to pursue other interests. He will remain as a consultant until year-end.

Hamilton returns to brokerage at Proveras

Longtime Ottawa commercial real estate professional Shawn Hamilton has returned to the brokerage business, joining Ottawa-based Proveras as principal.

Hamilton has three decades of experience in the CRE industry, including an extended 16-year tenure with CBRE, where he rose to senior vice-president and managing director of the firm’s Ottawa office.

For the past two years, Hamilton had taken on a role as vice-president, business development at Canderel Group in the National Capital Region.

The Ottawa native is a graduate of the University of Toronto and also holds the SIOR designation.