Cbus names property stalwart as senior investment director

The $94 billion fund has appointed a property investment veteran to a senior role within the team.

Cbus Super has welcomed Nikki Panagopoulos to the role of senior investment director, property.

Panagopoulos brings more than 26 years of experience in managing property portfolios to the role, across global and domestic fund managers including Deutsche Bank and AXA Australia.

Most recently, she was fund manager for the ASX-listed Australian Unity Office Fund, where she steered the execution of the funds value maximisation strategy.

Before this, Panagopoulos was the fund manager of the unlisted Australian Unity Diversified Property Fund and Retail Property Fund, with combined assets under management of some $700 million.

In her new capacity with Cbus, she will report to head of property investments, John Longo.

“Securing experts in property investment is vital to enhancing long term returns across the property asset class,” Longo said on the new appointment.

“Nikki’s skills and experience are outstanding and she has a very strong track record in this space.”

“Property investment and the built environment is a specialist area that is a key focus for Cbus, to ensure the fund gets the best investment outcomes from the industry a lot of its members work in. Cbus’ members will benefit from Nikki’s investment management experience.”

Panagopoulos added: “I am delighted to join Cbus Super, a leading super fund that focuses strongly on delivering the best outcomes for its members in the building and construction industry and aligned industries.”

“After 20 years with the commercial real estate team at Australian Unity, as a leader and custodian of capital for the unlisted and listed funds and having had the privilege to consistently outperform the benchmark and maximise value for unitholders in the retail, diversified and most recently office funds, it is time for my next chapter,” she separately took to LinkedIn to say.

“I look forward to making a positive impact to member returns in this new chapter.”

In July, Cbus posted a return of 8.35 per cent for its Growth (MySuper) investment option for the financial year 2024.

At the time, chief investment officer Brett Chatfield said the fund’s allocations to high quality unlisted infrastructure and property portfolios remains a key source of outperformance over the long-term.

However, he explained that short-term results have been challenged since the pandemic, although the fund believes property values are now close to stabilising.

“Our long-term focus on owning and developing high quality assets means our portfolio remains well positioned for a market recovery,” Chatfield said.

“Across the financial year Cbus Property has not been immune to these headwinds, but it has shown relative market resilience thanks to its well-located premium portfolio.

“Cbus Property is continuing to manage its significant pipeline of work developing property around Australia that also creates jobs for members and helps to boost residential property supply.”