LaSalle Announces CEO Succession for its European Business

LaSalle Investment Management (“LaSalle”) today announced that following a successful 12-year period as CEO for Europe, Simon Marrison will transition to assume a Chairman role for the business. Karen Brennan, Head of Americas Custom Accounts for LaSalle, has been appointed to succeed Mr. Marrison as the firm’s CEO for Europe, effective 30 June 2019. Mr. Marrison will remain in the Chairman advisory role and work closely with Ms. Brennan to ensure a seamless leadership transition.

Under Mr. Marrison’s leadership, LaSalle’s European business has seen significant growth and diversification, doubling its AUM from $10 billion to more than $20 billion during the period. In addition to serving on LaSalle’s Global Management Committee, Mr. Marrison has sat on all European Investment Committees and chaired the European Management Board. Mr. Marrison joined LaSalle in 2001 and has operated six funds in the region, launched the Continental European Separate Accounts business as well as the Debt & Special Situations business that now has a flagship fund series, and grown the firm’s pan-European Encore+ fund to a GAV of more than $2 billion.

In her new role, Ms. Brennan will have overall responsibility for LaSalle’s $22 billion AUM pan-European private equity real estate business and will join LaSalle’s nine-person Global Management Committee. She will be based in London and will also oversee the firm’s teams in the U.K., Paris, Munich and Luxembourg, and travel regularly to the markets in which LaSalle operates and invests. Ms. Brennan joined LaSalle in 1999 and has successfully held a variety of leadership, investment, asset and portfolio management roles across the organization. From 2008-2012, she relocated to the firm’s Singapore and Hong Kong offices where she held the role of Portfolio Manager, ex-Japan, for LaSalle’s Asia Opportunity Funds, and played a critical role in the re-structuring and stabilization of the region’s business following the Global Financial Crisis. More recently, she has led LaSalle’s Americas Custom Accounts group, which includes some of the firm’s largest and longest-standing institutional investor clients and has increased its AUM over 30% to nearly $10 billion.

Jeff Jacobson, LaSalle Global CEO, said: “Simon has played a pivotal role in LaSalle’s growth and success in Europe over his decade plus leadership of the business. As he elects to transition from day-to-day management of the business, I am extremely pleased that we have such a strong successor in Karen Brennan and that illustrates our commitment to succession planning and providing career opportunities to our top talent throughout the world. I am confident that Simon’s mentorship and Karen’s proven investment, client and leadership skills will lead LaSalle to continued growth and success in Europe.”

Simon Marrison, outgoing Europe CEO of LaSalle, commented: “I believe that it is important to refresh leadership in any business and I am genuinely proud of the growth and improvement our team have achieved over the past 12 years. With the business on such firm footing, now is an opportune time for a talented leader with a global perspective to take it to the next level, and I look forward to working closely with Karen in the future to build on our collective momentum.”

Karen Brennan, incoming Europe CEO of LaSalle, added: “It is an honor to be the next leader of our European business, which has experienced significant growth under Simon’s leadership. I am eager to work with the teams across the region to build on the foundation that has been set, as we seek to advance our global position and produce superior investment performance on behalf of our clients.”

About LaSalle Investment Management 

LaSalle Investment Management is one of the world’s leading real estate investment managers. On a global basis, we manage approximately $77 billion of assets in private equity, debt and public real estate investments as of Q4 2021. The firm sponsors a complete range of investment vehicles including open- and closed-end funds, separate accounts and indirect investments. Our diverse client base includes public and private pension funds, insurance companies, governments, corporations, endowments and private individuals from across the globe. For more information please visit www.lasalle.com and LinkedIn.

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