The Property Council farewells Kathy Mac Dermott and Chris Mountford, while Brendan Gorringe joins Cedar Woods as national acquisitions manager and RLB appoints Tony Moleta as managing director in Victoria.
Kathy Mac Dermott and Chris Mountford are departing the Property Council. Mac Dermott joined the Property Council in 2010 as Queensland executive director and was appointed chief operating officer in 2014, leading the Property Council’s commercial operations and member services across Australia. She also led the Property Council’s diversity initiatives, including the Property Champions of Change. Mac Dermott, who spent 11 years as a property journalist for the Australian Financial Review, will pursue non-executive director board roles and build a consulting practice. Chris Mountford joined the Property Council in 2009 as Queensland deputy executive director, before his promotion to Queensland executive director in 2014. A strong voice in Queensland, Mountford has had a major impact on tax, planning and infrastructure policy. Mountford, who has also held roles with the Civil Contractors Federation and Local Government Association of Queensland, will take up the role of CEO of Independent Schools Queensland. The Property Council will commence recruitment processes for both roles immediately.
Diversified property company Cedar Woods has a new national acquisitions manager. Brendan Gorringe to take on the new role following nearly three decades in property valuations, acquisitions, development, and finance. He was state director for ANZ institutional property group and was most recently as chief investment officer at Satterley Property Group. Gorringe will support Cedar Woods’ growth ambitions.
Tony Moleta has taken the reins as managing director of Rider Levett Bucknall in Victoria. Moleta started out as an undergraduate at RLB 22 years ago, rising through the ranks to be appointed director in 2014. Moleta recently established RLB’s Victorian infrastructure division and has overseen the rapid growth of its team and project portfolio. Moleta has been involved in iconic projects including Charter Hall’s Wesley Place and Mirvac’s Olderfleet in Melbourne, and Barangaroo Central in Sydney.
Engineering and project management consultancy Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec has appointed Sian Dodd as group marketing communications manager, working from its Adelaide CBD office. Dodd brings over 16 years building and property sector experience to the new role at WGA, bolstering the group’s national executive team. Working alongside joint managing directors Nick Lelos, Peter McBean and a team of 400, Dodd will oversee all strategic marketing communications across nine regions nationally and internationally. Dodd spent a decade with one of Australia’s largest privately-owned commercial builders Hansen Yuncken, establishing and managing the national communications and working on the company’s major projects including the $2 billion Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Les Wozniczka has been appointed to the board of ASX-listed property advisory and valuations firm Acumentis. Wozniczka retired as chief executive of agribusiness Futuris Corporation in 2008 and currently holds a 12.46 per cent stake in Acumentis. Wozniczka has been a director of public companies, and investment banker and international currency and bond manager.
German investment services firm Real I.S. AG has appointed Michael Wecke to replace Maximilian Kube as director of its subsidiary in Australia. Real I.S. Australia manages a portfolio of $1.25 billion across more than 188,000 sqm. Real IS paid a record $97 for a Surry Hills office in December. Wecke brings 20 years of experience in Germany and Australia. Board chair Jochen Schenk says the “current travel restrictions have shown us how important it is to have expert resources on the ground to make the best possible decisions”. Kube returns to Germany.