GCM Grosvenor has expanded its European business development team by appointing Philip Rotering as Executive Director and Lukas von Dreusche as Associate in its Frankfurt office. The hires, effective July 15, 2026, aim to enhance the firm's ability to serve institutional investors across Europe. Both executives will report to Markus Koch, Managing Director, Business Development and Head of the Frankfurt office.

Rotering brings over a decade of experience in alternative investments, institutional client development, and portfolio management. He previously served as Executive Director, International Capital Development at Prime Capital, where he expanded the firm's international institutional client base. Rotering is a CFA charterholder and has held senior roles in London and Frankfurt.

Von Dreusche joins as an Associate focused on business development and relationship management. He most recently worked as Senior Manager, Business Development, Private Markets at Universal Investment, leading institutional sales for private market strategies. His experience spans private equity, infrastructure, private debt, and venture capital.

Jonathan Levin, President of GCM Grosvenor, emphasized Europe's importance as a growth market. He stated that Rotering's experience in international institutional relationships and von Dreusche's private markets background would strengthen the firm's delivery of global investment capabilities in Europe.

The appointments reinforce GCM Grosvenor's investment in its Frankfurt office as a strategic hub for European business development. The firm manages approximately $91 billion in assets under management across private equity, infrastructure, real estate, credit, and absolute return strategies.

Grosvenor has signed S&S to its largest lease in nearly 75 years at Annacis Island, covering the entire Millennium 6 building, a 162,650 square foot warehouse at 1005 Derwent. The transaction marks the single largest lease within Grosvenor’s Investment portfolio in its Canadian history, reinforcing the asset as a core industrial node. S&S, a tech-forward leader in branded merchandise distribution, is investing an estimated $50 million in inventory at the new Vancouver facility, which is slated to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The new facility will more than double S&S’s regional footprint, adding 20,000 forward picking areas to enable broader and deeper inventory across key product categories. It will also integrate modern autonomous mobile robots as part of its automation strategy, enhancing speed, accuracy, and order quality. Josh Clark, Chief Operating Officer of S&S, emphasized that the investment strengthens the company’s ability to serve customers across Canada while creating a scalable and efficient network for future growth.

Grosvenor’s ownership of Annacis Island dates back to 1952, when it acquired the site as its first significant international investment. The island opened in 1955 as Canada’s first industrial park and remains a pioneering example of private-sector industrial planning. Grosvenor continues to own 185 acres on the island, aligning with its long-term strategy of investing in Canada.

Strategic Expansion and Market Impact

Sean Ungemach, Executive Vice Chairman of Cushman & Wakefield, noted that large format warehousing has stabilized, with vacancy dropping below 1% in BC, making assets like Millennium 6 highly sought after. The deal underscores the strength of the industrial sector in the province and creates a long-term relationship between Grosvenor and S&S.

Grosvenor is also preparing to begin construction on Millennium 7, a new 156,000 square foot, sustainably designed warehouse on Annacis Island, adjacent to the S&S facility. This development is part of Grosvenor’s broader plan to reposition its industrial portfolio as a modern, future-ready logistics and manufacturing hub.

Key Transaction Details

Robert Duteau, Executive Vice President, Investment at Grosvenor, highlighted that tenants like S&S are crucial to the vision of transforming Annacis Island into a world-class distribution hub. Enrique Escalona, Vice President, General Manager of Canada for S&S, added that the expansion reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to the region and its customers.