DTZ Investors Appoints Nicholas Garattini to Newly Created Head of Capital Formation Role
DTZ Investors has appointed Nicholas Garattini to the newly created role of Head of Capital Formation, the firm announced September 10, 2026. Garattini, who joins from Generali Real Estate, will take up the position on October 5, 2026, reporting directly to Chief Executive Officer Simon Down and joining the firm's Executive Committee.
A New Function at the Executive Level
The Head of Capital Formation role is a new position at DTZ Investors, reflecting the firm's stated intention to elevate capital raising to a dedicated strategic function. Garattini will be responsible for leading the firm's capital raising strategy across its three key focus sectors — Essential Real Estate, Urban Logistics and Living — deepening relationships with existing institutional investors and broadening the firm's reach with new capital sources in the UK and internationally.
His seat on the Executive Committee and direct reporting line to the CEO signal that capital formation is being treated as a core pillar of the business rather than a subset of marketing or investor relations. Down described the appointment as the concluding step in reshaping the firm's senior leadership.
"Nicholas's appointment is the final step completing our leadership team following the changes we announced earlier this year," Down said. "Capital Formation is central to our ambitions for the business, and Nicholas' combination of experience, drive and broad knowledge of the global capital landscape will be key in strengthening how we engage with our existing investor base and access new sources of capital as we continue to grow. I'm delighted to welcome Nicholas to the team."
Leadership Succession Sets the Stage
The Garattini hire follows a broader leadership transition at DTZ Investors that took effect September 1, 2026. Simon Down, previously Head of Pooled Funds, succeeded Chris Cooper as CEO, while Chris Sim was appointed to the newly created role of Chief Investment Officer. Together, the three appointments — CEO, CIO and Head of Capital Formation — represent a restructuring of the firm's senior governance around distinct strategic, investment and capital-raising functions.
DTZ Investors is the real estate investment management arm of Cushman & Wakefield and manages approximately $15.7 billion in assets under management globally. The firm organizes its investment activity around three sector leads: Urban Logistics, Living and Essential Real Estate.
Garattini's Background: Product, Solutions and Global Capital
Garattini brings 20 years of experience in institutional real estate asset and investment management, indirect investments, fundraising and investor relations. At Generali Real Estate, he held several roles, most recently serving as Head of Real Estate Product & Solutions. His experience spans investor relationships in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
His background in product and solutions design suggests DTZ Investors is positioning itself to offer more tailored investment structures alongside its existing pooled fund offerings. He is relocating to London to take up the role.
Garattini commented on the appointment: "DTZ Investors has a great platform with a top tier investor-base and a fantastic track record of delivering long-term out-performance, backed by the global knowledge and reach of Cushman & Wakefield. I'm excited to be joining at a pivotal moment for the business and looking forward to working closely with Simon, Chris and the wider team to build on that platform and support our investors as we grow the business, both domestically and internationally."
Capital Formation as a Growth Driver
The creation of a standalone capital formation function comes as institutional investors continue to allocate to income-oriented real estate strategies, and as European and UK managers compete for a broader pool of global capital. DTZ Investors' three focus sectors — Essential Real Estate, Urban Logistics and Living — align closely with areas of sustained institutional demand.
By formalizing capital formation at the executive level immediately after installing a new CEO and CIO, DTZ Investors is signaling a shift toward a more institutionalized operating model, with dedicated leadership across strategy, investment and capital markets as the firm pursues growth both in the UK and across international markets.
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