Barings, one of the world’s leading financial services firms, has announced the appointments of Robbert-Jan van Baal as Head of Real Estate Acquisition for Benelux and Thorsten Slytå as Regional Head of Real Estate for Scandinavia.

Van Baal, based in the Netherlands, will be responsible for transactions and overall asset and project management of Barings properties and those acquired on behalf of Barings clients. He joins Barings from AXA Investment Managers – Real Assets, where he was Head of Asset Management, Netherlands, responsible for all AXA IM-RA assets.

Based in Stockholm, Slytå joins the firm from M&G Real Estate, where he oversaw transactions and asset performance through active management across M&G’s Nordic region investment portfolio. His responsibilities will include transactions and oversight of the firms’ and Barings’ clients’ properties.

 Van Baal and Slytå will report to Gunther Deutsch, Barings Head of European Transactions.

“Strengthening our European real estate leadership team will position Barings across the Nordic and Benelux regions, further supporting our clients’ and the firm’s growth,” says Charles Weeks, Barings Head of Real Estate Europe and Asia.

He continues:

“Both van Baal and Slytå will source value and find new opportunities for our clients. They possess local, knowledgeable expertise and strong networks across Benelux and Scandinavia and we are delighted to welcome them to our team.”