Key Takeaways
- • IFM Investors appointed David Cienfuegos as global head of product structure strategy, based in New York, to identify emerging opportunities and translate market conditions and client priorities into product strategies.
- • Cienfuegos brings more than 25 years of investment and leadership experience, including 15 years at WTW, most recently as senior managing director and head of Western Europe and International.
- • The appointment follows IFM's March recruitment of Jeff Chee as global head of investment research and comes amid broader leadership transition in the firm's infrastructure business.
- • Michael Kulper will succeed Julio Garcia, who is retiring after 18 years, as head of infrastructure for North America; Kulper leads a toll road portfolio of approximately $28 billion in net asset value.
- • IFM, owned by pension funds, reported approximately $207.82 billion in assets under management as of September 30.
Summary
Global infrastructure manager IFM Investors has hired a former WTW consultant to sharpen its investment offerings and respond to changing institutional client requirements, according to the original report. The Australian firm appointed David Cienfuegos as global head of product structure strategy, based in New York. Cienfuegos spent 15 years at WTW in investment leadership roles, most recently as senior managing director and head of Western Europe and International, and brings more than 25 years of investment and leadership experience across public and private markets.
In the role, Cienfuegos will be responsible for identifying emerging opportunities and translating shifting market conditions and client priorities into product strategies. IFM head of product strategy and innovation Rekha Misra said the role would help the organization make strategic decisions amid evolving market dynamics, and would strengthen the firm's ability to design investment solutions while maintaining a focus on long-term growth.
The appointment follows IFM's recruitment of Jeff Chee as global head of investment research in March, as the firm continues to develop its global investment capabilities. It also comes amid a broader period of leadership change. Infrastructure head of North America Julio Garcia is retiring after 18 years with the firm and will transition out of his executive responsibilities following a transition period. In October, IFM announced that Michael Kulper will succeed Garcia. Kulper joined IFM in 2013, played a key role in developing its infrastructure equity business, and led origination of the firm's toll road portfolio, which currently represents approximately $28 billion in net asset value.
IFM was founded by and is owned by pension funds and invests across infrastructure equity and debt, private equity, private credit, real estate and listed equities. The firm reported approximately $207.82 billion in assets under management as of September 30.
In the role, Cienfuegos will be responsible for identifying emerging opportunities and translating shifting market conditions and client priorities into product strategies. IFM head of product strategy and innovation Rekha Misra said the role would help the organization make strategic decisions amid evolving market dynamics, and would strengthen the firm's ability to design investment solutions while maintaining a focus on long-term growth.
The appointment follows IFM's recruitment of Jeff Chee as global head of investment research in March, as the firm continues to develop its global investment capabilities. It also comes amid a broader period of leadership change. Infrastructure head of North America Julio Garcia is retiring after 18 years with the firm and will transition out of his executive responsibilities following a transition period. In October, IFM announced that Michael Kulper will succeed Garcia. Kulper joined IFM in 2013, played a key role in developing its infrastructure equity business, and led origination of the firm's toll road portfolio, which currently represents approximately $28 billion in net asset value.
IFM was founded by and is owned by pension funds and invests across infrastructure equity and debt, private equity, private credit, real estate and listed equities. The firm reported approximately $207.82 billion in assets under management as of September 30.
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