Real estate-focused asset manager Empira Group has appointed Edward Berry as managing director and head of its new London office. His appointment is effective immediately.

With more than sixteen years of experience working in the investment management industry, Mr Berry will be charged with developing Empira’s institutional client footprint in the UK.

As part of this drive, Mr Berry will attempt to raise awareness of Empira Group’s investment solutions across the real estate capital structure.  Based in London, he will report to Lahcen Knapp, founder and chairman.

Prior to joining Empira, Mr Berry worked in senior client facing positions at PIMCO and Centerbridge Partners. He worked at PIMCO from 2008 to 2020 as a senior vice president with responsibility for fundraising and managing relationships with PIMCO’s major UK institutional clients and their consultants.

At Centerbridge Partners he was a principal and responsible for fundraising across the UK investor base. Earlier in his career he was a banks sector equity research analyst at Dresdner Kleinwort and an associate strategy consultant in PWC’s Private Equity advisory business.

Lahcen Knapp, chairman of the board of directors, Empira Group said: “We are delighted to welcome Edward as our newly appointed Managing Director to drive our business development strategy for the institutional market in the UK. He has an impressive track record and extensive distribution experience. As we continue to lead the industry in sustainable institutional real estate investing, Edward joins at an exciting time to help build Empira’s presence in the UK.”