Christopher Witkowsky

Theodore Eliopoulos, CalPERS’ senior investment officer for real assets, has stepped in as acting CIO as Joe Dear battles prostate cancer.

Ken Whitney, who joined Blackstone in 1988, has long led the firm’s investor relations function, but he also played a key role in helping create various business lines like real estate and corporate debt.

The Orange County Employees’ Retirement System has published a policy document outlining its plans to push back against fees. The policy will affect the system’s alternatives program, which will likely impact real estate.

The $16bn pension system has hired Art Wang, the private equity chief from the New York State Common Retirement Fund, to oversee real estate, private equity and real assets.

Bryan Martin, who joined New Jersey last year to head up real estate and real assets, has joined an insurance agency in Nebraska.

A survey from RBC Investor Services revealed that nearly half of small, mostly private Canadian pensions plan to add allocations to real estate, though they have concerns about costs and lack of expertise.

Bruce Feldman, former head of alternatives at the Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System, saw the industry tilting toward ‘key’ LPs.

The $12 billion pension system has agreed to contribute $35 million to Rockwood Capital Real Estate Partners IX.

The US regulator will meet 22 August to ‘consider rules’ eliminating the ban on general solicitations of securities offerings, which has long prevented GPs from widely announcing their fundraisings.

A Baltimore-based investment firm has raised $180 million to invest in wetlands restoration, a niche strategy that combines conservation with mid-teen return expectations.