Research & Insights Thinking Globally About Macro Trends & Real Estate

Mike Acton, CFA, is a Managing Director of the firm and AEW’s Head of Research & Strategy with responsibility for directing the activities of AEW Research, the firm’s in-house research group. He works closely with the Fund’s investment management team in the development of the Fund’s investment strategy and criteria. Mr. Acton joined the firm in 1990 and has 34 years of experience as an economic analyst and forecaster. He is a standing member of the firm’s Investment Committee and Risk Management Committee. The resources of AEW Research are an integral part of AEW’s investment process and Mr. Acton works closely with senior professionals in all areas of the firm to develop investment strategies that match clients’ risk/reward objectives with market opportunities. Mr. Acton is also a member of the firm’s Compliance Committee. Prior to joining AEW, he was with DRI/McGraw-Hill where he managed the Metropolitan Area Forecasting Service. He is a graduate of Bates College (B.A.) and a CFA charterholder.

Hans Vrensen is Managing Director and Head of European Research & Strategy for AEW with responsibility for directing the firm’s research activities in Europe. Based in London, he is a member of the AEW European Investment Committee and a member of the firm’s Global Securities Allocation Committee. Hans' responsibilities include monitoring, evaluating and forecasting the macroeconomic environment, demographic trends and capital market conditions across Europe. He interprets this information for AEW’s senior professionals in order to provide decision support to the investment, asset management and portfolio management activities. Prior to joining AEW, Hans acted as an external consultant to CREFC Europe prior to that served as Global Head of Research for DTZ. He was also the Head of European Securitization Research at Barclays Capital prior to that a Senior Credit Officer at Moody’s Investor Services. Hans has a Masters in Economics from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and a Masters in Real Estate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Mr. Nelson is a Managing Director, Head of Research and Strategy in the Asia Pacific region and a Portfolio Manager of the AEW Asia Pacific Core Strategy. He is a member of the AEW Asia Investment and Risk Management Committees and a member of the firm’s Global Securities Allocation Committee. Mr. Nelson has over 20 years of real estate experience in the Asia Pacific region. Prior to joining AEW, he served as Head of Asia Pacific Property Research for Aberdeen Asset Management and as Head of Real Estate Intelligence for Jones Lang LaSalle. He is a graduate of University of Auckland and University of Texas at Arlington (M.S. in Real Estate).