RAM recruits QIC heavyweight

Real Asset Management has appointed Matthew Strotton to run the real estate business as the asset manager positions itself to speed up growth.

Strotton joins RAM after more than 19 years at QIC Global Real Estate where he was global director and head of funds management, overseeing the group's Australian and United States portfolios.

At the state-owned investment and funds manager, he helped increase QIC's real estate assets under management by more than $10 billion.

Moreover, he established QIC's real estate brand and capabilities in the United States.

Before working at QIC, he worked for Lendlease in several senior development roles.

RAM's local chief executive Scott Kelly said hiring Strotton further strengthened the real estate team.

"Matthew will play an integral role in crystallising our existing strategic plans and platforms in the unlisted and listed spaces as well as forging new partnerships and opportunities," he added.

Kelly said the recruit joins RAM during a transformational period that has seen significant growth across the whole business.

Last year, RAM's global headcount more than doubled to 100 employees in five offices across Asia-Pacific.

The firm's assets under management jumped more than 65 percent year on year to around $2.74 billion in December 2021 with real estate AUM surging past $1 billion.

In the third quarter of 2021, RAM listed its first real estate investment trust on the ASX, the RAM Essential Services Property Fund.

The fund consists of a geographically diversified and defensive portfolio of pure medical and essential retail-based properties, underpinned by a high-quality essential services tenant profile including hospital operators and leading national supermarkets.

RAM has also bought four properties for its RAM Diversified Property Fund, a new defensive unlisted property fund with a focus on office, retail, industrial and alternative sectors.

"I am excited to join a highly successful and energised team to deliver on existing successes and to bring new avenues of capital solutions and growth to the RAM group," responded Strotton.