Aviva Investors has appointed Daniel McHugh as chief investment officer (CIO) of its £47.3 billion Real Assets business.
This follows the appointment in January of former Real Assets CIO, Mark Versey, as Chief Executive Officer, Aviva Investors.
In his new role, Daniel McHugh will report to Mark Versey and will be responsible for the strategy and growth of Aviva Investors’ integrated Real Assets business, encompassing Real Estate, Infrastructure and Private Debt.
He will oversee around 300 professionals working across fund management, asset management, development, transactions, origination, underwriting, research, and business management. McHugh will also join the Aviva Investors Executive Team.
McHugh joined Aviva Investors in April 2018 as Managing Director, Real Estate. In that role, he was responsible for business strategy, product initiatives, and external engagement across Real Estate, as well as leading the firm’s direct investment activity across the asset management, development, and transaction teams. He is also a member of the Real Assets Senior Leadership Team. Daniel has more than 25 years’ experience in UK and continental European real estate. Prior to joining Aviva Investors, he was Head of Continental European Real Estate Investment at Standard Life Investments. He joined Standard Life Investments in 2000.
A successor as Managing Director, Real Estate, will be announced in due course. In the interim, James Stevens, Head of Development, Global Real Estate, will lead the team.
“I’m delighted that we have promoted one of our own to the role of CIO for Real Assets, which is central to our commercial strategy and an area we continue to see strong demand from our UK and international clients. Daniel has an exceptional investment pedigree, with a relentless focus on clients and delivering strong performance. Since he joined the business, we have significantly built out our development, asset management and transaction capabilities in Real Estate, expanding our investment strategy in exciting new European locations and forging strong partnerships with key international investors. Daniel shares my ambition to establish Aviva Investors as a market leader in Real Assets, and I have every confidence the business will flourish under his leadership,” said Mark Versey, Chief Executive Officer at Aviva Investors.
“I’m excited and proud that Mark and the executive team have given me the opportunity to lead our Real Assets business and I can’t wait to get started. We have a fantastic franchise, with highly capable and motivated teams across Real Estate, Infrastructure and Private Debt, and an integrated ESG approach that I believe is a differentiator for our parent Aviva and our external clients. My objective will be to ensure we continue growing the platform by delivering the investment outcomes our clients demand,” said Daniel McHugh, Chief Investment Officer, Real Assets, at Aviva Investors.
