ART adds portfolio manager to real estate team

Australian Retirement Trust (ART) has hired a portfolio manager for real estate.

Mozart Stephan joins the fund from Mercer where he was a principal for two and a half years.

Prior to this, he worked at property investment managers Marprop Real Estate Investors and Mapletree.

ART is the second-largest superannuation fund with $330 billion in assets under management.

In December, ART made its first domestic build-to-rent investment, adding more than 2,000 apartments to its portfolio. The fund invested in the $1.7 billion LIV Mirvac Fund, which owns about 2,200 apartments across Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

ART general manager mid-risk assets and UK, Michael Weaver, said the fund had been assessing opportunities in the sector for some time, drawing on its existing exposure to build-to-rent in the United States before settling on the Mirvac partnership.

The following month, it acquired a significant stake in Sydney’s Westfield shopping centre on Pitt Street.

ART will acquire the interest from Scentre Group in early 2026. Upon completion, QIC will act as investment manager for ART’s stake, while Scentre Group will continue to oversee asset management.

“Westfield Sydney is among Australia’s premier retail destinations that has consistently demonstrated strong performance and resilience through economic cycles.

“ART has about $180 billion of Australian assets under management, and we are proud to invest for strong returns in our members’ best financial interests while delivering for our communities and economic growth,” Weaver said.