The establishment of the property team is the latest step in our stated aim to expand and enhance our specialist fund management capabilities.

Our new team will focus initially on delivering investment performance from the existing AEGON Scottish Equitable Property Fund. The team will also develop new products to capture opportunities in the property investment market.

Historically, commercial property has delivered smoother returns than equities, and the asset class has outperformed equities and gilts over five and 10-year periods (Source: IPD, October 2007).

Given commercial property’s low correlation with other asset types, it is a valuable diversifier for client portfolios.

Phillip Clark
Investment Director, Property.

In his previous role, Phil managed the Specialist Property Funds Team, which included 14 sector focused investment funds with a gross property value of approximately £10.5 billion (as at end March 2007). He has extensive experience of direct and indirect real estate investment. Phil is Board member of the Property Investment Forum (IPF) and Chair of the IPF's Education Strategy Group. He was the founding module leader for the Finance and Funding Module of the IPF Advanced Education Diploma, and is a former visiting Lecturer of City University Business School. He holds a B.Sc. from Surrey University, an M.A. from City University Business School and is a Chartered Surveyor. Phil has worked in the real estate investment industry for 21 years.

David Wise
Investment Director, Property.

David joined AEGON Asset Management in 2007 from Morley Fund Management where he was the Property Investment Director for the Norwich Property Trust Team. He also had specific fund management responsibility for the Morley Pooled Pensions Property Fund and the Norwich Property Investment Fund. Previously David was Fund Manager for the CU/GA Life Funds and was responsible for establishing the Ashtenne Industrial Fund. An experienced property fund manager, he holds a BSc (Hons) from Sheffield University and is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. David is a Board member of the Association of Real Estate Funds (AREF) and has over 21 years experience in the real estate investment industry.