Fokus Nordic appoints Charles Dupont as new Group CEO

Nordic real estate asset manager Fokus Nordic has announced that Charles Dupont will become the new Group CEO in June 2026, taking over from founder Tonny Nielsen. 

Charles Dupont

Nielsen, who started Fokus Nordic in 2016 by spinning it off from Aberdeen Asset Management, will remain a large shareholder and stay on the Supervisory Board.

Under Nielsen's guidance, Fokus Nordic expanded significantly, growing from a Danish company with €1 bn in assets to a pan-Nordic operator managing about €10 bn. It now serves over 40 institutional clients across four countries with a team of more than 150 people.

Charles Dupont brings over 25 years of experience in real estate and investment across Europe. He co-founded Antin Infrastructure Partners and also built Schroder AIDA into a leading infrastructure debt investor with €4 bn in assets, later acquired by Schroders plc. Before joining Fokus Nordic, he was a partner and global head of Real Assets at Investindustrial and a board member at BauMont Real Estate. Dupont is known for his investment skills and his ability to develop and expand asset management businesses in complex international settings.

Tonny Nielsen, founding partner & member of the Supervisory Board, Fokus Nordic, said: “Building Fokus Nordic from the ground up has been the defining chapter of my professional life. What started as a small Danish team has become the reference pan-Nordic real estate platform as a result of the trust our clients have placed in us and the extraordinary dedication of our people. I am proud to pass the baton to Charles at such an exciting moment in the company’s journey. I will remain fully committed as a shareholder and will work hand in hand with Charles to ensure a seamless transition.”

Charles Dupont, Group CEO, Fokus Nordic, added: “Fokus Nordic is a remarkable platform, and I am truly honoured to have been entrusted by BlackFin Capital Partners and Tonny Nielsen to lead the company into its next phase of development. My priority will be to accelerate the company’s momentum by building on its deep local real estate expertise, strong client-centric culture, high-quality team and institutional credibility – the unique selling points that position Fokus Nordic to capture the opportunities emerging across the rapidly expanding real assets market.”