A doyen of SA’s listed property sector‚ Gerald Leissner‚ died on Friday.

Leissner’s most recent position was CEO of Arrowhead Properties.

The brief biography on its website said: “Gerald‚ 72‚ was CEO of ApexHi from its founding in 2001 until ApexHi was acquired by Redefine Properties Limited in 2009‚ after which he served as a nonexecutive director of Redefine.

He retired from Redefine when Arrowhead was formed in 2011.

Notice of Leissner’s death was e-mailed by Vukile CEO Laurence Rapp on behalf of the South African Real Estate Investment Trust (Reit) Association on Friday.

Rapp said: “I have unfortunately just received news that Gerald Leissner passed away this morning. In line with Jewish custom‚ he will be buried as soon as possible and the funeral will take place today at 1pm at Westpark Jewish Cemetery.

“Gerald has served as nonexecutive director of the Johannesburg Housing Company and the Housing Development Agency‚ and helped found the Central Johannesburg Partnership in the 1980s.”

“As an iconic figure in our industry‚ we had the opportunity to recognise Gerald’s contribution to the property industry at our last SA Reit conference.

“We wish his family comfort and strength at this difficult time. He will be fondly remembered and sorely missed‚” Rapp said.

Texton Property Fund CEO Angelique de Rauville said in an email on Friday: “In my 20 years of knowing him‚ I regularly held onto his shirt-tails.

“He was one of the strongest property operators in the country. Gerald was a property purist‚ tough but fair in business and always unquestionably principled. A great loss for the South African property sector.”

De Rauville described Leissner as “a pioneer in SA property and integral in the transformation of the sector from a neglected asset class into what it is today”.

The Board of Indluplace Properties announced on Monday "with great sadness" that one of its founders and executive director‚ Gerald Leissner‚ passed away on Friday‚ 16 December 2016.

"Gerald’s deep wisdom and significant contributions to the company and its executive team will be sorely missed. The company mourns his loss and extends its deepest sympathies and condolences to his wife and family‚" the board of Indluplace Properties said.

Arrowhead’s board said: "Gerald was a great visionary and inspiring mentor. As one of the great pioneers of the South African property sector‚ his death is a tragic loss to the company and sector.

"His contribution as a civic and community leader was also immense‚ benefiting countless organisations and individuals. Gerald leaves a rich legacy and his deep wisdom will be greatly missed.

"The company mourns his loss and extends its deepest sympathies and condolences to his wife and family‚" the board said.

"While the company will miss Gerald’s contribution it has a strong executive management team in place supported by an experienced and capable board of directors which ensures that the Company remains well positioned to continue to perform as strongly as it has since its inception.

"The board of directors will meet in January 2017 to consider the position of CEO‚" it said.

By Staff Writer