The new French operation will complement Catella’s existing property management business elsewhere in Europe, and will be “independent of Catella’s property advisory services in France”, even occupying different offices in Paris, the group said in a statement today.
The new entity will focus on investment management, asset management and property management on behalf of French and foreign investors
François Brisset, a previous managing director and co-founder of DTZ Asset Management, will head up the new business, Catella said.
Brisset’s previous roles were said to also include senior positions at Goldman Sachs/Archon, E&Y and Credit Foncier.
Catella’s existing asset management operation in Europe currently has some €5bn under management, of which around €2bn is in property investments. Much of these investments are in regulated property funds managed out of Munich, Catella said.
In today’s statement, Johan Ericsson, the outgoing president and chief executive of Catella, said that the company was establishing property asset management activities in France “in order to build on Catella’s strong position in property advisory services in the French market”.
As reported, Knut Pedersen, formerly managing director of ABG Sundal Collier in Sweden, has been named to succeed Ericsson, who is staying in the role only until the end of this year.
Catella is a provider of specialised financial services and products, and is active in 12 countries in two operating segments: corporate finance and asset management. It employs around 450 people. Countries in which it has offices include many in Scandinavia and Northern and Eastern Europe, including, in addition to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, France, Germany and Luxembourg.
