Toronto (November 21, 2024) – BGO announced today that it has named Simon Holmes as its Chief Investment Officer (CIO) in Canada. In this role, he will lead the investment team responsible for execution of the firm’s Canadian real estate transaction activity. Simon’s appointment to CIO adds to his current position as leader and Portfolio Manager for the firm’s flagship Canadian core strategy. In his expanded leadership capacity, Simon will contribute to BGO Canada’s strategic platform growth initiatives and he will continue to have an active role in the firm’s investor relations and capital raising functions. He will also become Chair of BGO Canada’s Management Investment Committee.
Simon’s deep expertise and ongoing investment oversight of the BGO Prime Canadian Property Fund strategy will further preserve the Fund’s stability, ensuring optimal alignment with the firm’s overarching strategic direction in Canada.
"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. 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,” said Christina Iacoucci, Managing Partner, and Head of Canada, BGO. “With Simon’s active stewardship and oversight, we are well-positioned to continue serving our clients with a focus on execution and performance, and to pursue new growth strategies with confidence and conviction.”
“I am honoured to lead our Canadian investment team and to serve alongside our incredibly skilled professionals who passionately embrace our role as a responsible and forward-thinking fiduciary of capital for our clients,” said Simon Holmes, Managing Partner, and Chief Investment Officer. “I look forward to contributing to the growth of the business in Canada with ingenuity, integrity, and an unrelenting focus on client service.”
Simon brings over 20 years of real estate experience that encompasses investments, portfolio and asset management, joint-venture structuring, capital raising and client relations, governance, and research. Since re-joining BGO in 2016, he has helped lead key initiatives including setting the strategic direction for the Prime Canadian Fund, overseeing comprehensive portfolio restructuring initiatives and executing significant property acquisitions and dispositions. Previously, he spent 10 years at CPP Investments with responsibility for strategy and execution across multiple property types in Canada and the U.S. Simon started his career with BGO in 2003.
BGO is a leading, global real estate investment management advisor and a globally-recognised provider of real estate services. BGO serves the interests of more than 750 institutional clients with approximately $85 billion USD of assets under management (as of September 30, 2024) and expertise in the asset management of office, industrial, multi-residential, retail and hospitality property across the globe. BGO has offices in 27 cities across thirteen countries with deep, local knowledge, experience, and extensive networks in the regions where we invest in and manage real estate assets on behalf of our clients in primary, secondary and co-investment markets.
BGO is a part of SLC Management, the institutional alternatives and traditional asset management business of Sun Life.
The assets under management shown above includes real estate equity and mortgage investments managed by the BGO group of companies and their affiliates, and as of 1Q21, includes certain uncalled capital commitments for discretionary capital until they are legally expired and excludes certain uncalled capital commitments where the investor has complete discretion over investment.
For more information, please visit www.bgo.com
Media Contact
Rahim Ladha
Global Head of Communications
media@bgo.com