Home Property Australia Property People

Property People

  • June 21, 2021

Investa and AMP Capital appoint new chief executives, Peter Menegazzo and Shawn Johnson. Virginia Briggs takes on the top job at MinterEllison as Charter Hall appoints Andrew Cole and Tica Hessing to its growing team.

Peter Menegazzo will lead Investa, replacing current CEO Jonathan Callaghan, who is stepping down after five years in the top job and 14 years with the company. Menegazzo is currently chief investment officer, and has been with Investa since 2007 after a brief stint between 2002 and 2004. Prior to his current role, Menegazzo was fund manager of the $6 billion Investa Commercial Property Fund, and has overseen the growth of one of the pre-eminent office funds in Australia.

AMP Capital has appointed a new chief executive. Shawn Johnson, former managing director of the State Street Global Advisors, one of the world’s largest fund managers, takes on the role later this month. Johnson spent 15 years with SSGA before forming his own alternative investments business in 2013. AMP chair Debra Hazelton says: “As AMP Capital separates from AMP and establishes a new culture and brand, Shawn has clearly demonstrated his capability to lead and inspire teams of highly capable investment professionals.” David Atkin, AMP Capital deputy CEO, will continue in his role until mid-July to facilitate a smooth handover before departing the organisation as planned.

Meanwhile, AMP Capital’s head of global client services Corrine Henville is moving to industry fund Rest as head of operations. Henville has more than two decades of experience, including seven years with AMP Capital and nearly nine years with Colonial First State before that. And following three years with AMP Capital, portfolio specialist Mitch Hannigan has moved to Talaria Asset Management as a director of sales.

Virginia Briggs will assume the top job at law firm MinterEllison following the departure of Annette Kimmitt in March. New CEO Briggs, who has practised as a solicitor for three decades, is MinterEllison’s head of infrastructure, construction and property, and sits on the Property Council’s national board of directors.

Plenty of movements at Charter Hall. Andrew Cole is the new group head of ESG. Cole joins from Lendlease Funds Management Australia, where he was the general manager for sustainability for five years and was responsible for the sustainability strategy for $27 billion of office, retail, industrial and retirement living assets. Cole is currently the chair of the Property Council’s National Sustainability Roundtable. Read our recent interview with Cole in Property Australia.

Charter Hall has also hired Tica Hessing as its new workplace strategy manager. A “human geographer”, Hessing been with Cushman & Wakefield in workplace strategy and research roles for the last six years. In her new role, Hessing will forecast global workplace trends, and zero in on human-centred design and technology.

Meanwhile, Margot Black is leaving Charter Hall after five years as head of sustainability. During her tenure, Charter Hall achieved global recognition as a leader in climate change reporting and GRESB. Prior to her role with Charter Hall, Black was Lendlease Communities national manager of social sustainability. She’s also held community development roles with Stockland and Hassell. And Benjamin Townsend has joined funds management organisation One Investment Group after eight years with Charter Hall. One Investment Group presently supports more than 380 wholesale and retail funds.

Yarraport, a consultancy connects capital and partners to developers and investors, has appointed Lyndsay Jamieson as associate director. Jamieson will be responsible for transaction assessment, financial modelling, deal execution and key stakeholder management. Jamieson was previously program manager with JLL and before that was with Winchburgh Developments and Halifax Bank of Scotland in the UK.

Brand specialist and property afficionado Kate Ellis Welsh has joined Hatch media as its property director. Ellis Welsh was editor of the Property Council’s Residential Developer Magazine back in the 2000s.

Sarah Reid is stepping away from the City of Melbourne after six years to join the Suburban Rail Loop Authority as senior sustainable development and delivery advisor. Reid worked on net zero planning and decarbonisation strategies, and was sustainability manager for the Fishermans Bend Taskforce.

Lisa Hinde has taken up a role with Colliers’ real estate management services team as head of sustainability. Hinde was with JLL for six-and-a-half years the last two as senior sustainability director.