Montreal-based real estate investment and operating platform Leyad has announced a series of senior appointments and promotions as it continues to scale its national platform and deepen operational capabilities. The Leyad leadership expansion comes as the firm manages approximately 5,000 residential units and 10 million square feet of commercial assets across Canada.
The appointments reflect a strategic focus on strengthening internal expertise across leasing, operations, and asset management. As a result, Leyad is positioning itself to support continued portfolio growth while enhancing tenant experience and operational performance.
Anthony Casalanguida Appointed Vice President, Retail
As part of the Leyad leadership expansion, the company has appointed Anthony Casalanguida as Vice President, Retail. He brings more than 25 years of experience overseeing high-performing retail, office, and mixed-use portfolios across Canada.
In his new role, Casalanguida will oversee strategic growth, leasing, property operations, and tenant experience across Leyad’s retail platform.
Prior to joining Leyad, Casalanguida most recently served as General Manager of The Well in downtown Toronto, where he led leasing, activation, and operations across a 3 million square foot mixed-use development. Before that, he spent 16 years at Oxford Properties Group, where he most recently held the role of Vice President, Retail. In that position, he oversaw a retail portfolio exceeding $4 billion across multiple provinces and managed a team of more than 400 professionals.
Earlier in his career, Casalanguida served as General Manager of Yorkdale Shopping Centre, widely recognized as Canada’s highest-performing retail destination. In that role, he directed more than $500 million in development activity and helped drive annual retail sales exceeding $1 billion.
Dina Lianos Joins as Director of Operations
Leyad has also appointed Dina Lianos as Director of Operations. She joins from Colliers, where she developed experience in property operations and asset performance.
In her new role, Lianos will focus on enhancing operational efficiency and supporting the continued growth of Leyad’s national portfolio. Her appointment further supports the Leyad leadership expansion as the company builds out its internal operational infrastructure.
Gregory Castiel Promoted to Senior Vice President, Commercial Properties
In addition to new hires, Gregory Castiel has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Commercial Properties. In this expanded role, he will oversee Leyad’s national commercial portfolio, which comprises approximately $2 billion in assets across eight provinces.
Castiel will also lead a broad team of leasing, operations, and property management professionals. The promotion reflects Leyad’s continued confidence in his leadership and execution capabilities as the platform grows.
Recent Mall Acquisitions Signal Aggressive Growth Strategy
The Leyad leadership expansion comes at a time when the company has been actively growing its retail portfolio through a series of high-profile acquisitions across Canada.
Earlier this month, Leyad also acquired Lloyd Mall in Lloydminster, Alberta. The more than 200,000 square foot enclosed shopping centre serves a regional trade area spanning the Alberta and Saskatchewan border. The property is anchored by key daily needs retailers, including Safeway, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Dollarama, aligning with Leyad’s focus on necessity-based retail fundamentals.
In February 2026, Leyad acquired St. Vital Centre in Winnipeg for $160.5 million. The approximately 1 million square foot enclosed mall is one of Manitoba’s top-performing retail destinations and attracts roughly eight million visitors annually. The property includes a roster of major national tenants such as Walmart, Indigo, and London Drugs, and represents one of the largest retail transactions in Western Canada in recent years.
These acquisitions build on a broader expansion strategy that accelerated in 2025. Notable purchases include Pen Centre in Ontario, a 1.1 million square foot regional shopping centre, as well as Londonderry Mall and St. Albert Centre in Alberta.
Across these assets, Leyad has focused on repositioning underutilized space and enhancing tenant mix. This includes backfilling former Hudson’s Bay department store boxes and introducing new retail concepts to drive traffic and long-term value. At Edmonton’s Londonderry, Zellers opened its first new 3.0 concept store last fall on one level of the mall’s former Hudson’s Bay.
Leadership Investment Supports Operational Execution
“These appointments reflect the continued evolution of Leyad’s platform as we invest in top-tier talent to support our growth across Canada,” said Henry Zavriyev, CEO of Leyad. “Anthony, Dina, and Gregory, each bring strong leadership, operational expertise, and a deep understanding of the real estate landscape. We are excited to have them in these roles as we continue to expand our portfolio and capabilities.”
The timing of the Leyad leadership expansion suggests a deliberate effort to align executive talent with an expanding asset base. As the company integrates newly acquired properties, operational discipline and leasing strategy will be critical to unlocking value.
