CDC Infrastructure appoints new CEO

Paris-based fund manager CDC Infrastructure has made further changes to its top management team, shortly after appointing a new chairman last month.

Patrick Vandevoorde, currently deputy chief executive, is to become chief executive in May. He will replace Jean Bensaïd, who’s been at the head of the fund manager since 2008.

Prior to joining CDC Infrastructure, Vandevoorde was chief executive and chairman of Société Centrale pour l'Equipement du Territoire (SCET), a group of 250 public ventures focused on city planning, local infrastructure and housing. Notable projects he worked on have included the building and operation of the Toulouse metro.

He was previously in charge of public-private partnerships (PPP) within France’s urban planning and territorial development agency.

Bensaïd is to transfer to Icade, the Paris-listed real estate business of state-owned institution Caisse des Depots et Consignations (CDC). In his new role he will be in charge of asset management, Greater Paris and services.

Vandevoorde’s promotion follows the appointment of Dominique Marcel as chairman of CDC Infrastructure last March. Marcel is also chairman of Compagnie des Alpes, a ski resort operator also part of CDC.