Principal Real Estate Investors snags UBS fundraiser

The Des Moines, Iowa-based fund manager has hired Douglas Harper as managing director in charge of its US fundraising operations.

Principal Real Estate Investors has appointed Douglas Harper, executive director at UBS Realty Investors, to lead its US fundraising activities.

The Des Moines, Iowa-based firm said in a statement that Harper would join the firm as managing director of real estate sales, working with Principal Global Investors’ sales team to raise capital for the firm’s US vehicles as well as its global property securities products. “We are pleased to have Doug join our organisation,” said Patrick Halter, chief executive officer of Principal Real Estate.

At UBS Realty Investors, which he joined in 2008, Harper was responsible for the development and marketing of the bank’s various real estate funds. He also worked for BlackRock/SSR Realty in a similar role.

Principal Real Estate has $35.4 billion in assets under management invested through public and private equity and debt investments.