Nuveen, a global asset manager with an impressive $1.3 trillion in assets under management, has taken a significant step by launching a dedicated Global Infrastructure Investment Platform. This initiative aims to consolidate multiple specialized teams under a single leadership structure, responding to the growing demand from investors for infrastructure assets. The formation of this platform demonstrates Nuveen’s commitment to capitalizing on market opportunities while leveraging its extensive resources.
The new platform is part of a broader reorganization that aligns the firm’s investment capabilities into six distinct asset class pillars. This strategic move follows decades of organic growth and well-planned acquisitions, solidifying Nuveen’s position as a leader in alternative investments. The firm manages a substantial $340 billion across various sectors, including real estate, natural capital, infrastructure, private capital, and specialized areas such as leveraged finance and private placements.
At the helm of the Global Infrastructure Investment Platform is Jessica Bailey, who has been appointed as the Head of Global Infrastructure. Previously the CEO of Nuveen Green Capital, Bailey will oversee efforts to scale the platform, which is already ranked among the top 20 infrastructure managers in terms of assets under management. She will report directly to Saira Malik, Nuveen’s Chief Investment Officer.
Nuveen has established itself as a trustworthy infrastructure investment manager over the past several decades, managing $36 billion across private infrastructure debt, equity, and listed infrastructure. The newly structured platform brings together several established teams with specialized expertise.
The Nuveen Energy Infrastructure Credit team offers tailored private credit solutions designed to develop energy and power infrastructure. It focuses on emerging trends, such as digitalization, electrification, and reindustrialization, across North America, Europe, and other OECD markets. Don Dimitrievich will continue to lead this team.
Under the leadership of Biff Ourso, the Nuveen Infrastructure Equity Teams manage a range of investments. This includes direct investments, limited partnerships, and co-investments in sectors such as clean energy, agricultural infrastructure, and social infrastructure within North America. Their approach emphasizes diversification across various infrastructure assets.
The Clean Energy Infrastructure team is dedicated to managing committed capital for private infrastructure projects that focus on clean and renewable energy, as well as energy storage solutions on a global scale. This team plays a crucial role in facilitating the transition to sustainable energy sources.
Focusing on the technology sector, the Digital Infrastructure team targets significant private equity investments in businesses that provide cloud services, connectivity, and other essential technologies critical to the digital economy. This specialized focus aligns with current market needs and the ongoing digital transformation.
Nuveen Green Capital, led by Alexandra Cooley, who retains her role as Chief Investment Officer, also plays a vital role within the infrastructure framework. The firm is a national leader in sustainable financing solutions for essential infrastructure in the commercial real estate sector. Their focus areas include energy efficiency, renewable energy projects, and resilience initiatives. Cooley co-founded Nuveen Green Capital in 2015 and has been instrumental in creating a leading platform for sourcing, structuring, and financing C-PACE projects.
While the investment strategies and processes of each team will remain consistent, the formation of the Global Infrastructure Investment Platform will be supported by the firm’s extensive expertise in infrastructure investments. This experience is a core aspect of Nuveen’s identity, especially given its status as one of the largest municipal bond managers, with $190 billion in assets under management.
In addition to the Global Infrastructure Investment Platform, Nuveen has restructured its organization to include five other key asset class pillars. The Global Real Estate Platform is recognized as one of the largest in the world, managing over $135 billion in assets, with Chad Phillips continuing as its head.
Nuveen’s Global Natural Capital Platform positions the firm as the largest institutional investor in farmland, overseeing $11 billion across farmland and timberland. This team is led by Martin Davies.
The Global Private Capital Platform has emerged as a top-5 private debt fundraiser on a global scale, managing $87 billion in committed capital. Recently, this platform entered into a strategic partnership with Hunter Point Capital and Temasek. Ken Kencel and Anthony Fobel will continue to serve as co-CEOs of this division.
The Global Fixed Income Platform is recognized as one of the largest in the world and is a top-5 institutional fixed income manager, boasting $569 billion in assets under management. Anders Persson will continue to lead this vital segment of Nuveen’s operations.
Finally, the Global Equities Platform ranks among the top 5 best-performing active managers, according to LSEG Lipper, overseeing $536 billion in assets under management. Willis Tsai will serve as the Head of Global Equities.
KEY QUOTES:
“Over the course of multiple decades, we’ve strategically built out our broader alternative investment capabilities, and today we’re ready to meet the unprecedented client demand for infrastructure exposure across both public and private markets.”
“We’re committed to delivering comprehensive infrastructure solutions across the risk-return spectrum, from development-stage clean energy projects to stabilized digital infrastructure assets and differentiated securitized investment-grade opportunities. By bringing together our specialized teams, we can better serve clients who are seeking to allocate capital to the infrastructure investments that are essential to the global economy.”
Bill Huffman, Chief Executive Officer of Nuveen
