The Indian REITs Association (IRA) has announced the appointment of Shirish Godbole, Chief Executive Officer of Knowledge Realty Trust,  as its chairperson, with immediate effect. He succeeds Alok Aggarwal, who stepped  down as Chairperson following his retirement as Managing Director & CEO of Brookfield India Real Estate Trust.

The Indian REITs Association expresses its sincere gratitude to Mr. Aggarwal for his leadership and valuable contributions in guiding the Association during the formative  phase of India’s REIT sector. Under his stewardship, the Association played a key role in  strengthening investor education, fostering industry engagement, and supporting the  growth of the country’s listed REIT ecosystem.

Founded in 2023 under the guidance of SEBI and the Ministry of Finance, the Indian REITs  Association (IRA) is a non-profit industry body dedicated to promoting the growth and  development of India’s Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) sector. Its members include  Brookfield India Real Estate Trust, Embassy Office Parks REIT, Mindspace Business  Parks REIT, Nexus Select Trust, Knowledge Realty Trust, and Bagmane Prime Office REIT.

Commenting on his appointment, Shirish Godbole said, “I am honored to assume the  role of Chairperson of the Indian REITs Association at a defining moment for the sector.  In just a few years, REITs have established themselves as a credible and transparent investment avenue, and the opportunity ahead is even more exciting. As India’s  commercial real estate market continues to mature, REITs have the potential to become  a mainstream investment product for both domestic and global investors. I look forward  to working closely with our members, regulators and other stakeholders to strengthen  the REIT ecosystem, enhance investor awareness, uphold the highest standards of governance and transparency, and support the next phase of growth for the industry.”

Godbole currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Knowledge Realty Trust,  India’s largest listed REIT by market capitalization, and brings over 25 years of experience in global real estate investing and finance. He has held senior leadership positions with globally renowned institutions, including AEW Capital Management in Boston; Morgan  Stanley in New York, where he served as Managing Director in the Real Estate Assets Division; and Morgan Stanley India Financial Services Private Limited, where he headed  Morgan Stanley’s Real Estate Investing business in India. He has also served as Managing  Director in the Merchant Banking Division at Goldman Sachs (India) Securities Private  Limited.

Godbole holds a master’s degree in business administration from Northeastern University, Boston.