Fiera Real Estate has appointed Ignacio Ruíz Gallego (pictured) as investment associate in its European real estate debt team to help drive the firm’s expansion into private markets across Iberia.
Ruíz, who will be based in Madrid, joins from CBRE’s capital advisors team, where he was previously an associate director.
Read more: M&G expands structured credit team with director hire in Madrid
He will be responsible for originating and executing real estate debt investments in Spain and Portugal, and will play a key role in the growth of Fiera’s European debt strategy, which forms part of its global $5.4bn (roughly £4bn) private credit platform.
The pan-European real estate debt strategy, launched in 2023, has already allocated capital into Spain with the completion of a €19.2m (£16m) development financing for a 221-bed purpose-built student accommodation asset in Valencia, and a €17.1m development financing for a 290-bed asset in Alicante.
Read more: Barings expands Global Private Finance Group with managing director hire
Further investments in Spain are already in the pipeline.
“As alternative lenders look to take up a growing share of a space once held near-exclusively by banks, and borrowers become increasingly accustomed to working with non-bank sources, I look forward to further cementing Fiera’s presence in the Iberian market,” Ruíz said.
Read more: Hayfin names new COO as Tognolini takes on co-CEO role
