Real estate investment management firm CB Richard Ellis Investors has expanded its global real estate securities team the appointment of Sara Bellenda as portfolio manager for Continental Europe and the promotion of Daniela Lungu as portfolio manager for the UK.

Bellenda (pictured) joins the team on 1 March 2010. She brings significant experience in the European real estate securities markets having previously been a portfolio manager at Henderson Global Investors focusing on the Continental European companies. 

Lungu, a professional with over 12 years’ experience, has been on the team for almost five years, focusing on research and portfolio management of UK and European companies. She has previously held positions at Deutsche Bank, Bank Austria Creditanstalt and Sky Capital.

Bellenda and Lungu will replace Jeremy Anagnos in his capacity as portfolio manager for Europe. Anagnos has moved to the US to focus on the North American market for global real estate securities but will continue to provide general guidance for Bellenda and Lungu.

Anagnos says: “GRES is delighted to welcome Sara Bellenda to the London team and congratulates Daniela on her promotion. Together they both bring a wealth of experience to their new roles, which will complement the existing members of our team and the GRES group as a whole. I look forward to working with them closely to develop and exploit the opportunities available in the European Reits sector.”