Paul Oppenheim succeeds John O’Rourke as chair

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Leading public infrastructure investor, developer and manager Plenary has announced a change to its board, with founder and non-executive director Paul Oppenheim succeeding John O’Rourke as chair. Mr O’Rourke remains on the board as non-executive director after serving as Plenary’s inaugural chair since Plenary’s inception in 2004.

Mr Oppenheim was Plenary’s inaugural CEO from 2004 until he moved into a non-executive director role in January 2020.

“Paul has played a large part in the success of Plenary over the past twenty years and under his chairmanship I am very confident we will successfully execute the growth strategy we’ve embarked upon. I very much look forward to working with Paul, my fellow directors, and our management team over the years ahead to continue to support the success of the company,” Mr O’Rourke said.

“John has been a brilliant chair for the last 20 years, and under his leadership we have developed a very clear vision for the future. As Plenary begins our next chapter, I see compelling opportunities in our core Australian market and significant growth potential in the Middle East and Europe,” Mr Oppenheim said.

Founded in Australia in 2004 by John O’Rourke, Paul Oppenheim, Ray Wilson, and Jim Cox, Plenary has steadily grown to be recognised as a market-leading investor, developer and manager of public, urban and community infrastructure and property. It has successfully exported its business model and now counts 21 assets under management across Australia and the Middle East worth more than $32 billion and offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Singapore, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, London and Dublin.

Mr Oppenheim played a key role in the global capital raising process that led to the partnership agreement with Abu Dhabi-based investment holding company ADQ.

Subject to regulatory approvals, ADQ will take a 49% interest in Plenary, providing capital that will be used to accelerate Plenary’s growth across its key markets across Australia, Asia, the Middle East the UK and Europe.

Plenary and ADQ will also establish a co-investment and development platform pursuing opportunities in the Middle East.

Plenary will remain majority owned and controlled by its Australian founders and management team and retains operational independence.

Mr Oppenheim is chair of the Parklife Metro entity delivering the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport PPP and represents Plenary on the boards of the Sydney Metro North West and City and Southwest projects.

He is also a director of SCEGGS Darlinghurst and the Belvoir Theatre.