Key Takeaways
- • OMERS appoints Adam Buzanis as managing director and head of funds, effective August 3, 2026, to lead the expansion of its external private equity funds strategy across primary funds, co-investments, and secondaries.
- • Buzanis brings nearly two decades of global private markets experience, previously serving as head of private markets at CAAT Pension Plan, with deep expertise in fund investing, portfolio construction, and manager relationships.
- • OMERS is scaling its external PE funds program to $10 billion-plus, positioning external funds as a more central pillar of its overall private equity platform to broaden access to global opportunities and deepen manager relationships.
- • Buzanis reports directly to Michael Block, OMERS's head of private capital, and will oversee portfolio diversification, advance co-investment capabilities, and leverage institutional insights to drive long-term returns for OMERS members.
- • The appointment reflects OMERS's strategic evolution, marking the next stage in building its external funds platform as a core component of its private equity operations within the C$145 billion ($104 billion USD) pension system.
Summary
The Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS), Canada's largest defined-benefit pension plan with C$145 billion in assets, has appointed Adam Buzanis as managing director and head of funds effective August 3, 2026. The appointment was announced via LinkedIn and reflects OMERS's continued commitment to expanding its external private equity funds strategy as a central element of its broader private equity platform.
Buzanis joins OMERS from the CAAT Pension Plan, where he served as head of private markets. He brings nearly two decades of investment management experience across global private markets, including primary funds, co-investments, and secondaries strategies. In his new role, Buzanis will lead the development of OMERS Private Equity's external funds strategy, oversee a growing global portfolio, and advance the organization's co-investment capabilities and portfolio insights. He reports to Michael Block, OMERS's head of private capital.
According to Michael Block's statement, the appointment marks "an important next step" in OMERS's funds program development. Block emphasized that Buzanis brings "deep experience across global private markets, strong expertise in fund investing and portfolio construction and a broad network of manager relationships." Block added that Buzanis's leadership will drive capability within private equity while prioritizing the long-term interests of OMERS members.
The external funds program is designed to broaden access to global private markets opportunities, deepen relationships with high-quality external managers, support portfolio diversification, and create additional co-investment opportunities. OMERS plans to scale this program to exceed $10 billion in allocations, positioning external fund investments as a more significant component of its overall private equity strategy. This expansion underscores OMERS's strategic pivot toward leveraging external manager relationships and co-investment opportunities to enhance returns and diversify its private markets exposure.
Buzanis joins OMERS from the CAAT Pension Plan, where he served as head of private markets. He brings nearly two decades of investment management experience across global private markets, including primary funds, co-investments, and secondaries strategies. In his new role, Buzanis will lead the development of OMERS Private Equity's external funds strategy, oversee a growing global portfolio, and advance the organization's co-investment capabilities and portfolio insights. He reports to Michael Block, OMERS's head of private capital.
According to Michael Block's statement, the appointment marks "an important next step" in OMERS's funds program development. Block emphasized that Buzanis brings "deep experience across global private markets, strong expertise in fund investing and portfolio construction and a broad network of manager relationships." Block added that Buzanis's leadership will drive capability within private equity while prioritizing the long-term interests of OMERS members.
The external funds program is designed to broaden access to global private markets opportunities, deepen relationships with high-quality external managers, support portfolio diversification, and create additional co-investment opportunities. OMERS plans to scale this program to exceed $10 billion in allocations, positioning external fund investments as a more significant component of its overall private equity strategy. This expansion underscores OMERS's strategic pivot toward leveraging external manager relationships and co-investment opportunities to enhance returns and diversify its private markets exposure.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.