PATRIZIA, a global leader in real assets, has revamped its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) team to solidify its focus on sustainability and impact investing.

Key Leadership Changes

• Mads Rude retains leadership of PATRIZIA Global Partners and takes on overall responsibility for impact investing. He is supported by Marleen Bikker-Bekkers, who leads the PATRIZIA Sustainable Communities fund.
• Edward Pugh is promoted to Head of Sustainability.
• Mathieu Elshout departs for Aware Super, an Australian superannuation fund, after successfully building PATRIZIA's ESG strategy for 3.5 years.

Building on a Strong Foundation

Mahdi Mokrane, Head of Global Investment Strategy, Research and Investment Solutions at PATRIZIA, said: “Mathieu has been instrumental in developing our strong ESG framework and central sustainability team that is the absolute foundation of our global sustainability and impact strategy.

"We wish him all the best as we build on his excellent work ensuring sustainability remains a key enabler for creating and protecting value for PATRIZIA’s investors and broader stakeholders in a world deeply in transition. With Mads and Edward, we are thrilled to have two exceptional industry professionals driving the future growth of our impact investing platform as we look to launch further vehicles, alongside ensuring the meticulous stewardship of our group-wide sustainability strategy.”

Mathieu Elshout said: “I am immensely proud of the progress we have made over the last 3.5 years developing PATRIZIA’s corporate ESG strategy and impact investing platform. Not only have we launched the group’s first SFDR Article 9 fund, Sustainable Communities, which saw one of our strongest fundraises in 2023, but we have also broadened our central sustainability function to integrate key decarbonisation teams including our cutting-edge smart buildings platform Ambio. As one of the industry’s future leaders, I am truly excited to see where Edward takes PATRIZIA next on its sustainability journey.”

Impact Investing Takes Centre Stage

The new structure integrates impact investing more closely with investment decisions. Mads, already overseeing the impact strategy since 2022, leads this charge. Marleen continues to manage the Sustainable Communities fund and co-investment activities.

Centralised Sustainability for Decarbonisation

PATRIZIA maintains a dedicated central sustainability function that connects key operational teams like Real Estate Development, Asset Management, and the Ambio smart buildings platform. Edward Pugh's promotion reflects his role in designing PATRIZIA's sustainability strategy and decarbonisation initiatives.

Combining Experience with Future Leaders

The leadership team has a blend of seasoned professionals and rising talent. Mads brings nearly 30 years of real estate experience, with a focus on impact investing. Edward contributes over a decade of expertise in real estate sustainability.

Strong Oversight and Reporting

Both sustainability and impact functions maintain oversight from PATRIZIA's Executive Committee. Edward reports jointly to Amal del Monaco (CEO, Asset Management & Development, European Real Estate) and Mads reports to Mahdi Mokrane.

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Source: PATRIZIA