Columbia Threadneedle overhauls UK real estate team

Columbia Threadneedle Investments is overhauling its £7.4bn UK real estate business as team leader John Willcock retires. Joseph Vullo, who joined the company 20 years ago and is the real estate division’s head of asset management, will become head of UK real estate. James Rigg has been named chief investment officer for the division. Both will report to Nick Ring, chief executive for EMEA. Willcock steps down after 26 years with Columbia Threadneedle and predecessor firms. He was named head of UK real estate in 2018 and will continue to work for the company in a part-time capacity from October until the end of the year. Alongside Willcock, director and fund manager Chris Morrogh will retire in the coming months. In a further revamping of the team, Gerry Frewin, manager of the £1bn Threadneedle UK Property Authorised Investment Fund, will become head of retail, while James Coke and Robin Jones will become co-heads of institutional. To send feedback, e-mail tim.burke@egi.co.uk or tweet @_tim_burke or @estatesgazette