Nuveen Launches Global Infrastructure Platform to Scale $340B - InforCapital

Nuveen, a global asset manager with approximately $1.3 trillion in assets under management, has launched a dedicated Global Infrastructure Investment Platform to accelerate the expansion of its $340 billion private markets business. This new platform unifies multiple specialized infrastructure teams under a single leadership structure to meet the rising global demand for infrastructure exposure.

Organized as part of Nuveen’s six distinct asset class pillars, the platform integrates capabilities in sustainable real estate financing, clean energy development, infrastructure credit, and digital infrastructure equity. The strategy reflects Nuveen’s emphasis on collaboration, long-term capital, and diversified solutions across public and private markets.

Infrastructure needs globally are projected to reach $94 trillion by 2040, driven by the energy transition, digitalization, and aging systems. Nuveen aims to address this by offering end-to-end solutions spanning development-stage clean energy projects to stabilized digital assets and investment-grade securitized vehicles.

Jessica Bailey, previously CEO of Nuveen Green Capital, has been appointed as Head of Global Infrastructure. She will report to Saira Malik, Nuveen’s Chief Investment Officer, and will oversee the unified infrastructure platform’s scale-up and strategic direction.

Nuveen’s infrastructure teams now include:

• Nuveen Energy Infrastructure Credit, led by Don Dimitrievich, providing private credit for power, electrification, and digital infrastructure in developed markets.
• Infrastructure Equity Teams, led by Biff Ourso, investing in clean energy, transportation, digital infrastructure, and agricultural infrastructure.
• Digital Infrastructure, focusing on cloud, connectivity, and core technology services supporting the digital economy.
• Nuveen Green Capital, a national leader in sustainable infrastructure finance through commercial real estate, retaining Alexandra Cooley as CEO and CIO.

Each team retains its existing strategy, benefiting from cross-platform collaboration and the firm’s institutional strength in related areas like municipal bonds, where Nuveen manages $190 billion.

This launch follows Nuveen’s strong momentum in infrastructure. Recently, the firm secured $1.3 billion in a first close for its Energy & Power Infrastructure Credit II (EPIC II) strategy, which targets $2.5 billion in commitments for clean energy, energy storage, and midstream investments.

Nuveen’s expansion mirrors industry-wide shifts. Asset managers like BlackRock, Brookfield, and Macquarie have also consolidated infrastructure capabilities to meet institutional appetite for scalable, sustainable investments. Many are focusing on private infrastructure credit and digital assets to capture structural megatrends.

Internationally, Nuveen is scaling operations with a regional focus. In Spain, the firm hired Alfonso Ortal, a former executive at Galp, Tesla, and E.ON, to lead Verdian, Nuveen’s renewable energy platform aiming to develop up to 3 GW of solar and wind power. In Germany, Nuveen partnered with Ørsted to develop the Gode Wind 3 Offshore Wind Farm, now supplying clean power to over 250,000 households.

The Global Infrastructure Investment Platform joins five other core pillars at Nuveen:

• Global Real Estate Platform – over $135 billion in AUM, led by Chad Phillips.
• Global Natural Capital Platform – includes $11 billion in farmland and timberland, led by Martin Davies.
• Global Private Capital Platform – with $87 billion in capital, co-led by Ken Kencel and Anthony Fobel.
• Global Fixed Income Platform – managing $569 billion in AUM, led by Anders Persson.
• Global Equities Platform – overseeing $536 billion, led by Willis Tsai.

With this structure, Nuveen is positioned to deliver integrated, institutional-grade solutions across private infrastructure and real assets, supporting long-term economic development and helping clients achieve durable returns aligned with global transformation trends.