The People’s Partnership has appointed Marija Simpraga and Raymond Wright as co-heads of real assets, to lead its investment drive into private markets.
The People’s Partnership, which runs the People’s Pension master trust, say this will include significant investment in the UK.
These two appointments means People’s Partnership will have the in-house capability needed to build on its ambition to invest 10 per cent of its growth pool assets in private markets by 2030, with substantial proportion of this being inside the UK..
Simpraga joins from Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM), where she gained significant expertise in strategic infrastructure investment. In this role she focused on European clean energy and digital infrastructure, guiding more than £10bn in real asset strategies. Prior to this she led European utilities equity research at Bloomberg LP, where she integrated ESG factors into financial analysis and developed tools still used across its client network.
Wright has 22 years in pension fund management, 16 of which were at British Airways Pensions, where he developed expertise in investment management and portfolio oversight. Throughout his career, he has managed diverse private market assets, focusing on innovative strategies that align with ESG principles, manage risk, and drive performance across various asset classes.
People’s Partnership’s chief investment officer, Dan Mikulskis says: “We’re delighted to announce the appointments of two highly experienced fund managers to lead a key area of our growing investment portfolio.
“This marks an important milestone in the ongoing expansion of the investment team for The People’s Pension, which has nearly doubled in size in just over a year. Their expertise will enable us to ensure we get the best value for our seven million members in an area which presents an exciting opportunity.”
Simpraga says: “Our goal is to develop and implement a scalable private markets strategy that generates strong, risk-adjusted returns by deploying capital in private infrastructure and real estate. We’re committed to achieving positive real-world outcomes alongside financial performance, investing in assets vital to the UK’s economic growth and energy transition.”
Wright adds:: “This is an opportunity to not only expand our existing portfolio but also deliver real, tangible benefits to our members by building a strong and dynamic private markets platform from the ground up.
“The investments we make will aim to provide better returns for members, while integrating ESG principles that align with their values.
“I’m looking forward to working with the team to create a lasting positive impact in both our members’ financial futures and in the broader community.”
