The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) has named Rana Ghorayeb as its new head of real estate.

Her appointment comes after Montreal-based CDPQ integrated its Ivanhoé Cambridge and Otéra Capital subsidiaries into the parent company under its brand. She has served as president and CEO of Otéra, which specialized in real estate lending, for nearly five years.

She decided to remain with CDPQ after the integration and has continued to serve as head of the overall investment group while sitting on the parent’s executive committee. Before joining CDPQ in 2012, she served as vice-president of acquisitions at JP Morgan Asset Management in London, England, where she was in charge of real estate investments in several European countries. Prior to joining JP Morgan, she worked in New York, leading real estate transactions as a senior partner with major U.S. pension fund TIAA.

Ghorayeb effectively replaces Nathalie Palladitcheff, who resigned as president and CEO of Ivanhoé Cambridge, the CDPQ’s real estate investment arm, after the integration was announced. Palladitcheff has remained with the pension fund manager as the integration proceeds.

The integration, designed to save $100 million, is expected to take 18 to 24 months to complete.

“The real estate sector is facing big challenges, but Nathalie Palladitcheff and her team have transformed the portfolio to be better positioned for the future,” said Ghorayeb. “Along with the Ivanhoé Cambridge team, I am delighted to be able to contribute to the next chapter at this pivotal moment for the industry, knowing that we have the key strengths to come out ahead. as the company merges with its parent, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.”

CDPQ is one of the world’s largest institutional investors, holding $424 billion in assets under management. As part of the integration, CDPQ will acquire all of the stakes held by Ivanhoé Cambridge and Otéra minority shareholders.

Palladitcheff was selected as one of Connect’s inaugural Canadian Women in Real Estate Award winners.

Photo: CNW Group/CDPQ