Texas Teachers exec joins GI Partners

GI Partners hired Joyce Chow as principal in its real estate strategy.

She will oversee origination and portfolio management for GI Partners Real Estate’s platform activities that total $18 billion across a broad spectrum of specialized property sectors. These sectors include technology and life sciences, industrial, multi-family and student housing real estate.

Chow had been a director in the real estate group at the Teachers’ Retirement System of Texas in Austin, where she managed a global portfolio of direct and fund investments.

“I am pleased to be joining GI Partners at a dynamic time for the firm, and for our industry,” said Chow in a statement. “At a time when the real estate industry is undergoing extensive transformant to a more operator focused model, I am excited to be at GI Partners, which has an impressive track record of building world-class real estate operating companies.”

Prior to working at the pension system, Chow served on the global commercial real estate team at Deutsche Bank focused on large loan origination and structured credit in the bank’s Hong Kong offices.

She was welcomed by John Saer, managing director and head of real estate at GI Partners. The firm overall has $32 billion in assets invested in private equity, real estate and data infrastructure strategies.

“Joyce brings extensive experience structuring joint ventures and partnerships with operators and fund managers,” said Saer. “Her background and unique perspective will be integral to our growth efforts.”