Leyad has appointed two new senior leaders as the company continues to expand its national platform. Juan Calixto Tria joins as senior vice-president of financial reporting and compliance, while Alex Ratté takes on the role of vice-president of construction.
“Juan and Alex each bring deep expertise in their respective fields and further strengthen our ability to execute at the highest level for our tenants,” said Henry Zavriyev, Leyad’s chief executive officer.
Financial and Construction Expertise
Calixto Tria, who joined Leyad earlier this year, will oversee financial reporting, corporate compliance, accounting policies, treasury reporting, and governance. He previously served as vice-president of finance at Agellan and held senior roles with MNP, PwC, Ernst & Young, and Rawlinson & Hunter.
Ratté brings over two decades of experience managing commercial real estate developments and capital programs. He will lead Leyad’s construction and capital projects platform. Most recently, Ratté served as senior director of project management at Cominar, managing capital programs of up to $100 million during the REIT’s transition from public to private ownership.
Before Cominar, Ratté spent over 16 years with First Capital REIT, managing major redevelopment projects across Quebec, B.C., and Ontario.
Leadership Changes Across the Industry
In other leadership news, Elgin Farewell, president and CEO of Teranet, will retire after nearly three decades with the company, including 13 years in the top role. Farewell will remain in his position while the board completes the succession process.
“Elgin’s leadership has been instrumental in building Teranet into the strong, resilient organization it is today,” said Andrea Bolger, chair of the board of directors. Founded in 1991, Teranet operates land registration systems in Ontario and Manitoba.
At Altus Group, Katie Royce has joined as chief financial officer, based in New York. She will lead the company’s global finance organization. Royce previously served as CFO of ZenBusiness and held senior finance roles at Cognizant.
Former Altus CFO Pawan Chhabra will remain with the company until September to support the transition. Chhabra, who joined in January 2023, helped transform Altus into a pure-play technology firm.
Meanwhile, David Owen, president and COO of Pure Industrial, announced his departure after 10 years with the firm. Owen joined in 2016 as an asset manager and oversaw the growth of Pure Industrial’s team from 30 to over 300 people, managing 43 million square feet across Canada.
New Appointments and Expansions
Prologis has hired Adam Hasen as vice-president and market officer for the Toronto market. Hasen will oversee a 14 million-square-foot portfolio, including 42 logistics facilities across the GTHA. He previously served as vice-president of leasing at GWL Realty Advisors, managing an 11 million-square-foot portfolio with over 500 tenants.
At Partner Assessment Corporation, Ben Woodcock will join as director of building sciences, based in Vancouver. Woodcock will lead the expansion of the firm’s Building Condition Assessment services across Western Canada. He brings over 20 years of experience in building consulting, property condition assessments, and commercial real estate advisory services.
Fiera Capital has appointed Nicholas Smart as lead portfolio manager for Canadian large-cap equities. Smart, who has been with Fiera since 2016, previously co-led the firm’s Canadian large-cap strategies. He has over 15 years of investment industry experience, including five years with Empire Life Investments.
These leadership changes reflect ongoing growth and strategic shifts within the industry. As companies like Leyad expand their national platforms, the appointment of seasoned executives like Calixto Tria and Ratté shows the importance of financial and operational expertise in scaling real estate operations.
Similarly, transitions at Teranet and Altus highlight the role of long-term leadership in organizational resilience and technological transformation. Farewell’s retirement marks the end of an era at Teranet, while Royce’s appointment at Altus signals a continued focus on innovation and global expansion.
Across the board, these moves demonstrate how companies are positioning themselves for future growth by attracting talent with diverse skill sets and proven track records. The industry’s ability to adapt to changing market conditions will likely depend on such strategic leadership appointments.
In a related development, Prologis’s hiring of Hasen for the Toronto market reflects the region’s growing importance as a logistics hub. With over 14 million square feet of industrial space under management, Prologis is well-positioned to capitalize on Toronto’s strategic location and strong economic fundamentals.
Meanwhile, Woodcock’s appointment at Partner Assessment Corporation signals the firm’s commitment to expanding its building sciences expertise across Western Canada. His extensive experience in property condition assessments and commercial real estate advisory services will be invaluable as the firm grows its regional footprint.
Smart’s promotion at Fiera Capital, on the other hand, highlights the firm’s focus on strengthening its investment management capabilities. With over 15 years of industry experience, Smart is well-equipped to lead Fiera’s Canadian large-cap equity strategies, building on his previous success as co-lead of the firm’s Canadian large-cap team.
