The Ontario Municipal Employees’ Retirement System is parting ways with two infrastructure leads in the wake of struggling investments in the European market, according to a report from the Financial Times.

Alastair Hall (pictured right), the OMERS’ senior managing director for Europe, and Chris Hogg (pictured left), a director based in the London office, both recently departed the organization.

Read: OMERS returns 2.2% in first half of 2025, net assets reach $138.2 billion

In an emailed statement to Benefits Canada, Michael Hill, executive vice-president and global head of OMERS Infrastructure, said Europe remains an important geography for the organization and integral part of its diversification strategy. He added Hall decided to leave the investment organization having made significant contributions to the team and growth of the infrastructure asset class in the region.

“Recruitment for a new European head of infrastructure is underway, and we look forward to welcoming new leadership in due course.”

The report noted Hall was involved in the investment organization’s investment in Thames Water, a British utility with significant debts and struggling to keep up with infrastructure needs, which was written off entirely in 2024.

Read: What does the Thames Water debacle mean for investment risk management?

For his part, Hogg was a lead executive overseeing Deutsche Glasfaser, a German internet infrastructure provider that struggled with its rollout plans. In December, it was reported the firm was nearing a €1.7 billion financing deal from its owners EQT AB and the OMERS in combination with super senior debt financing from lenders. The OMERS currently holds a 49-per-cent stake in Glasfaser.

According to the report, the shareholders have already invested nearly €4 billion in the firm and as part of the financing deal, Glasfaser would cut back its servicing ambitions to help stabilize costs.

The leadership void comes at a time when, reportedly, the OMERS is exploring selling its 30 per cent ownership stake in Associated British Ports. The report noted Morgan Stanley had been appointed to explore a sale which would also include fellow stakeholder CPP Investments, which holds a 33.88 per cent stake.

The report noted some recent infrastructure sales and the executive departure doesn’t mean the investment organization is scaling back its entire infrastructure strategy in Europe.

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