HSBC Assets Management designates a global leader for real estate assets
HSBC Asset Management Appoints Karim Ghannam as Global Head of Real Assets
HSBC Asset Management (HSBC AM) is strengthening its real assets platform with the appointment of Karim Ghannam as Global Head of Real Assets and Head of Alternatives. Ghannam, an expert in impact-focused investments and real assets, will join HSBC AM on 8th August 2025.
Ghannam brings over 25 years of experience to his new role, having held leadership positions at Deutsche Bank, Argan Capital, and 8F Asset Management. He co-founded 8F Asset Management in 2016, an impact-focused private equity fund manager, where he served as Chief Executive Officer before joining HSBC AM.
At 8F Asset Management, Ghannam was instrumental in promoting impact-driven investments, focusing on private equity opportunities that deliver social and environmental benefits alongside financial returns. His move to HSBC AM positions him to scale real asset investments — including real estate, infrastructure, and natural resources — aligning with global trends in sustainability and impact investing.
Joanna Munro, the Chief Executive Officer of Alternatives at HSBC AM, will oversee Ghannam's work. Ghannam's role at HSBC AM includes strategic development and management of the real assets proposition, which includes a suite of listed, direct, and indirect real asset investment strategies.
Alternative investments are increasingly opening up to more types of investors, and HSBC AM's focus on real assets reflects this growing trend. The appointment of Ghannam underscores HSBC's strategic focus on real assets and impact investments in Asia-Pacific and globally.
Ghannam’s career emphasizes the integration of sustainability and impact measurement within traditional asset management frameworks. He champions private equity and real asset investment strategies that support environmental, social, and governance (ESG) outcomes, reflecting HSBC’s broader commitment to responsible investing.
Prior to joining 8F Asset Management, Ghannam held a number of leadership roles in alternatives and private markets at global firms including Deutsche Bank and Argan Capital. His background at these firms provided experience in asset management and private equity that informs his approach to integrating financial performance with impact metrics.
In summary, Ghannam's career is marked by a progression from investment management roles at Deutsche Bank and Argan Capital to founding and leading an impact-focused private equity fund (8F Asset Management), culminating in his 2025 appointment at HSBC Asset Management as Global Head of Real Assets, where he is positioned to advance impact investing strategies on a larger scale.
Karim Ghannam, in his new role as Global Head of Real Assets and Head of Alternatives at HSBC Asset Management, will focus on applying his extensive experience in alternative investments, with a particular emphasis on private markets and asset management, to expand real asset investments such as real estate, infrastructure, and natural resources. This move aligns with global trends in sustainability and impact investing, as HSBC AM prioritizes private equity opportunities that deliver both financial returns and social and environmental benefits. As Ghannam's work at HSBC AM is overseen by Joanna Munro, the Chief Executive Officer of Alternatives, the appointment underlines HSBC's strategic focus on real assets and impact investments in both the Asia-Pacific region and globally.
