Green Street News: BGO's new Canada CIO aims to unleash real estate giant's buying power
Simon Holmes has been promoted to Chief Investment Officer for Canada at BGO, where he will lead the firm's investment strategy and real estate transaction activities. Holmes, who joined BGO in 2003 and rejoined after a decade at CPP Investments, brings over 20 years of industry experience to his expanded role. As chair of BGO Canada's management investment committee and portfolio manager for the $6.4 billion Prime Canadian Property Strategy, Holmes is focused on capitalizing on buying opportunities across diverse property types, including multifamily, industrial, and retail. His leadership will shape the firm's pivot to an aggressive acquisition strategy following a $2 billion asset disposal during the pandemic.
Under Holmes’ guidance, BGO aims to diversify its Canadian portfolio further, emphasizing suburban markets and properties at various price points. Recent acquisitions, such as a new apartment building in Pickering, Ontario, illustrate the firm’s strategy to expand suburban holdings. BGO also seeks to leverage its global platform, managing $114 billion in assets and over 69 million square feet in Canada, to maintain an edge in market insight and execution. With a fully integrated approach and a team of 1,000 employees nationwide, BGO is positioned to capitalize on market shifts and deliver long-term growth for its investors.
