Analyst hire for CPPIB

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has hired infrastructure analyst Michael Conrad.

Conrad had been working in investment banking for Credit Suisse Group, having joined the financial services provider in mid-2011. He graduated from McGill University.

CPPIB has a C$11 billion (€7.9 billion; $10.7 billion) infrastructure business. The Board has situated infrastructure in its ‘Private Investments’ (PI) arm, led by senior vice president Andre Bourbonnais. Alain Carrier is head of infrastructure for CPPIB.

A ‘Crown corporation,’ CPPIB is manager of the C$189 billion Canada Pension Plan (CPP). For fiscal year 2013, CPPIB reported that its infrastructure portfolio had returned 8.8 percent.

CPPIB chief executive Mark Wiseman has talked up infrastructure as a crucial asset class. CPPIB is a direct investor in infrastructure, owning 40 percent of 407 Express Toll Route (407 ETR).