Henderson Global Investors is expanding its European property capability with the appointment of Andrea Orsa as Head of the property team based in Milan, Italy. He joins one of the top international property investment managers, active in the Real Estate business for more than four decades, with skills and competences developed both in the UK and in Europe.
Henderson has recently announced plans to launch HERALD, a sector specialist pan-European Retail Property Fund focussing on active asset management and investing in retail warehousing, shopping centers and city centre retail assets throughout Europe. The fund will give European institutional investors access to retail investment opportunities focussing on the countries within the Eurozone. Herald has a target size of circa 1 billion.
Commenting on Mr Orsa's appointment, Neil Varnham, Director of Property Retail for Europe, says, "I am delighted that Andrea is joining our team. With his profile and experience he will enhance our capability to select interesting investment opportunities especially in Italy, which is a key area of focus for us. Our goal is to become a leading player in Continental Europe, leveraging on the huge background of competences acquired in UK."
Mr Orsa says, "Henderson is characterised by an unparalleled mix of international profile, relevant experience, local presence and reach, as well as access to an international infrastructure that underscores its strong competitive position. In particular, the company has a consolidated experience in specific real estate sectors, with a unique skill at a European level in retail investments."
Previously, Mr Orsa was Asset Management Retail Director at Aedes SpA, where he managed a portfolio of 60 retail properties, worth over 450 million, and where he launched a property fund specialized in malls. Prior to this he was with O' Connor Capital Partners, General Partner of Peabody funds, as well as with Jones Lang Lasalle as Associate Director and with Gruppo Rinascente, Retail Division.
Andrea has a summa cum laude degree in Economics from Università degli Studi di Messina and an MBA from SDA, Università Bocconi.
Source: Henderson