People Property Place

This week, I sat down with Michela Hancock to unpack the journey from psychology graduate to property entrepreneur, and how she helped pioneer institutional build to rent in the UK long before it was widely accepted. Michela is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hilltop Property Partners. Before launching Hilltop, she worked across US and UK real estate, including early exposure to multifamily housing in the United States, and later bringing that institutional rental mindset into the UK market at a time when many believed renting would never become a lifestyle choice. In this conversation, Michela shares how growing up in a family business shaped her entrepreneurial mindset, and why she made the difficult decision to pivot away from a career in clinical psychology after years of study. That willingness to change direction led her into real estate development, where she combined US multifamily experience with a long term conviction around UK rental housing. We explore the early days of institutional build to rent in the UK, when pension funds and advisors were sceptical, and Michela was repeatedly told that everyone in Britain wanted to own rather than rent. She explains how she built conviction around demographic change, quality rental supply gaps and the concept of renting as a lifestyle choice. The conversation then moves into Hilltop's strategy, targeting the so called squeezed middle and key worker demographic, where the need for high quality, attainable rental housing is most acute. Michela outlines the viability pressures facing mid market rental delivery today, and why building now into a supply constrained environment could create long term opportunity. We also discuss capital raising in a global market where UK development competes for attention and allocation, and why resilience, persistence and finding the right partner can be more important than finding hundreds of investors. Michela shares candid lessons on entrepreneurship, including the advice she received that starting a business is like being in a rowboat with no oars, and why she chose to do it anyway. This is a conversation about conviction, mid market housing, entrepreneurship and building through difficult cycles. Key Topics Covered in This Episode ✅ From Psychology to Property Why Michela pivoted careers after years of study and what that taught her about risk and conviction. ✅ Early Institutional Build to Rent How she introduced US multifamily thinking into a sceptical UK market. ✅ Renting as a Lifestyle Choice Challenging the assumption that everyone wants to own. ✅ The Squeezed Middle Opportunity Targeting key workers and mid market rental housing in a viability constrained environment. ✅ Raising Capital in a Global Market Why alignment and persistence matter more than volume. ✅ Building Hilltop Property Partners Entrepreneurship, partnership and long term platform thinking. ✅ Resilience and Founder Mindset The "never leave your chair" philosophy and showing up every day. And of course, I asked Michela the big question: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place would you invest in if you had £500 million to deploy? If you have thoughts or questions about this episode, drop them in the comments. I'd love to hear your take. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne, recruiting leadership talent for real estate funds, owners, investors, and developers.

This week, I sat down with Andrew Hynard to unpack a corporate career that spans more than three decades at JLL, the chief executive leadership of one of London's most prestigious estates, and a post-executive chapter advising some of the most interesting property businesses in the UK. Andrew spent the majority of his career at JLL focused on Capital Markets, ultimately becoming Deputy Chairman of the UK business. He later became Chief Executive of The Howard de Walden Estate, overseeing 90 acres in Marylebone with a portfolio heavily weighted toward private healthcare in and around Harley Street. Today, he advises businesses including Clipstone Investment Management, Howard Group, Orega, Taurus Developments and Love Ventures, a VC investor in early stage technology companies   In this conversation, Andrew reflects on growing up as the son of a surveyor in Hastings and deciding at just ten years old that property would be his path. We explore his early decision to specialise in investment rather than rotate through departments, and why he later regretted not gaining broader technical grounding despite accelerating his capital markets career. We go deep into his time at JLL, including the cultural and strategic forces behind the merger with King Sturge, how he navigated internal politics without burning bridges, and why playing the long game and treating people with decency became his defining leadership philosophy. Andrew also shares the transition from advisory to client side when he became CEO of Howard de Walden, what it really means to run a £3–4 billion estate in one of London's most complex submarkets, and why attracting world class healthcare operators like Cleveland Clinic was a defining moment. We then turn to today's market. Andrew gives a candid view on the state of UK real estate, the leadership reset across major advisory firms, where growth is actually coming from, why income will dominate returns for the foreseeable future, and why he believes we are approaching an inflection point rather than a falling knife moment. Finally, we explore his portfolio of advisory roles, his work in venture capital, and why mentoring the next generation is one of the most important investments he now makes.   Key Topics Covered in This Episode ✅ From Hastings to Deputy Chairman How Andrew set his sights on property at age ten and built a 30+ year capital markets career. ✅ The King Sturge Merger The first conversation that led to one of the most significant UK advisory mergers of the past two decades. ✅ Advisory vs Client Side What changes when you move from broker to principal and how to make that transition successfully. ✅ Leading the Howard de Walden Estate Healthcare, tenant mix strategy, stakeholder management and long term estate stewardship. ✅ The State of the UK Market Flat growth, tentative optimism, income driven returns and why 2025 could be a turning point. ✅ Leadership Change Across UK Agencies Why so many CEOs have changed and what the next generation must get right. ✅ Building a Post Executive Portfolio Advisory roles, venture capital, mentoring and giving back to the industry. And of course, I asked Andrew the big question: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place would you invest in if you had £500 million to deploy? If you have thoughts or questions about this episode, drop them in the comments. I'd love to hear your take. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne, recruiting leadership talent for real estate funds, owners, investors, and developers.

This week, I sat down with Pavel Streblov to unpack how one of Central Europe's most established private real estate groups is entering the UK market, why London still matters, and what it really takes to build and deliver at scale as a developer in today's environment. Pavel is Business Director at Penta Real Estate, a privately owned investment group founded by five university classmates, with major interests spanning healthcare, banking, media, and large scale urban real estate. Pavel leads Penta's UK platform and is responsible for its expansion into London, bringing institutional capital, long term thinking, and a developer led mindset into a market facing structural supply constraints. In this conversation, Pavel explains why Penta chose to expand beyond its home markets in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, how the group reached scale domestically, and why development requires a fundamentally different approach to buying standing assets. We explore why building a credible pipeline matters more than one off success, and how local knowledge, council dynamics, and delivery track record determine whether a developer is taken seriously. We discuss Penta's first major UK move, a joint venture with Ballymore across two residential schemes totalling around 700 homes and approximately £700 million of development value. Pavel shares how Penta thinks about quality, amenity, and long term ownership, and why entering the market at the bottom of the cycle can create asymmetric opportunity when supply is constrained. The conversation also goes deep on the UK market itself. Pavel offers a blunt comparison between the UK and the Czech Republic, explaining how stamp duty, transaction costs, and mortgage pricing actively discourage ownership and push local buyers into renting. We unpack Gateway 2, viability pressure, delivery delays, and why flexibility and speed of decision making have become critical advantages in a market full of stalled and so called zombie projects. We close by looking ahead. Pavel explains how Penta is already using AI in early stage design and option testing, and why being a developer ultimately requires optimism. If you fully price every risk, nothing ever gets built.   Key Topics Covered in This Episode   ✅ Why Penta Chose the UK How scale limits in home markets pushed Penta to expand and why London stood out. ✅ Development Versus Standing Assets Why development is a long term commitment that requires local conviction and pipeline depth. ✅ The Ballymore Joint Venture 700 homes, £700m of value, and why scale matters from day one. ✅ Ownership, Stamp Duty and Market Friction Why UK tax structures discourage buying and reshape demand dynamics. ✅ Gateway 2 and Viability Pressure How regulation and delays are constraining supply and reshaping opportunity. ✅ Zombie Projects and Flexible Capital Why creativity, speed, and structure now unlock returns. ✅ AI and the Developer Mindset How technology supports decision making and why optimism still matters.   And of course, I asked Pavel the big question: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place would you invest in if you had £500 million to deploy? If you have thoughts or questions about this episode, drop them in the comments. I'd love to hear your take. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne, recruiting leadership talent for real estate funds, owners, investors, and developers.  

This week, I sat down with Dr. Kate Jarvis to unpack a journey that spans childhood instability, academic rigour, early machine learning, and the building of an AI native platform designed to fundamentally change how real asset decisions are made. Kate is CEO and co founder of Fifth Dimension, a technology company powering decision making across real assets, underwriting, asset management and portfolio strategy for some of the world's largest real estate and investment organisations. With a PhD from Stanford and more than fifteen years building machine learning backed businesses across the US, UK and Europe, Kate sits at the intersection of deep technical expertise and real world operational experience. In this conversation, Kate shares how growing up with her family home repossessed at a young age shaped her relationship with risk, security and institutions, and why those early experiences still influence how she builds businesses today. We explore her path through linguistics and early AI research, long before machine learning became mainstream, and how understanding language, prediction and inference laid the foundations for her later work in real assets. We discuss how Kate entered real estate through shared ownership and institutional capital deployment, where she encountered the reality of manual underwriting, endless spreadsheets, PDFs and investment committee drag. That frustration became the catalyst for Fifth Dimension. Kate explains why most AI tools fail in regulated, high stakes environments, why auditability matters more than automation, and how Fifth Dimension works alongside investment teams to amplify judgement rather than replace it. The conversation also looks ahead to what it really means to be AI native, who wins over the next decade, and why smaller, smarter teams may soon outperform incumbents with scale alone. Key Topics Covered in This Episode ✅ From Instability to Resilience How early life experiences shaped Kate's approach to risk, ambition and long term thinking. ✅ From Linguistics to Machine Learning Why language, prediction and inference sit at the heart of modern AI and real asset decision making. ✅ Why Real Estate Underwriting Is Broken The operational drag inside institutional real estate and why spreadsheets still dominate billion pound decisions. ✅ Building Fifth Dimension How shared ownership, manual IC processes and frustration with legacy workflows led to an AI native platform. ✅ AI as an Amplifier, Not a Replacement Why human judgement, creativity and context still matter and how AI should support decision makers, not remove them. And of course, I asked Kate the big question: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place would you invest in if you had £500 million to deploy? If you have thoughts or questions about this episode, drop them in the comments. I'd love to hear your take. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne, recruiting leadership talent for real estate funds, owners, investors, and developers.  

This week, I sat down with Ian Rickwood to unpack a career that spans entrepreneurship, private equity, consumer businesses, failed exits, market downturns, and ultimately the building of a long term real estate investment and capital platform. Ian is Founder and Chairman of Henley, a fast growing private equity real estate investment and venture capital business operating across the UK, Europe and the US. Over the last two decades, Henley has invested across residential, industrial, social and supported housing, urban regeneration and large scale development, working with institutional capital, high net worth investors and operating partners. In this conversation, Ian shares how early years in FMCG and entrepreneurial ventures laid the foundations for his approach to risk and execution, why scaling consumer businesses taught him lessons that many investors only learn later, and how navigating both successful exits and painful failures shaped his long term mindset. We discuss what it really feels like when a deal does not work, why some businesses are structurally broken regardless of management quality, and how those experiences directly influenced Ian's transition into real estate and private capital. Ian also explains how Henley was formed out of operational experience rather than financial engineering, why long dated and complex projects can offer an edge, and how the firm thinks about platform building, partnerships and capital alignment. We explore social and supported housing, urban regeneration at scale, the challenges of deploying capital through cycles, and why conviction becomes more important as markets tighten. The conversation also touches on US expansion, joint venture models, and what experienced operators look for when backing people rather than just projects.   Key Topics Covered in This Episode ✅ From Operator to Investor How early entrepreneurial and operating experience shaped Ian's approach to capital, risk and decision making. ✅ When Exits Do Not Go to Plan Why some businesses fail despite strong management and what those lessons teach long term investors. ✅ Building Henley Through Cycles How private equity thinking, real estate fundamentals and operational discipline came together. ✅ Complexity as a Competitive Advantage Why long dated, operationally intensive and misunderstood assets can outperform. ✅ Capital, Partnerships and Conviction How Henley approaches joint ventures, institutional capital and platform growth across markets. And of course, I asked Ian the big question: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place would you invest in if you had £500 million to deploy? If you have thoughts or questions about this episode, drop them in the comments. I'd love to hear your take. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne, recruiting leadership talent for real estate funds, owners, investors, and developers.

This week, I sat down with Niall Farmer to unpack an unconventional real estate career that spans retail property, residential development, masterplanning, construction, and now leading the UK platform for one of Asia's most powerful real estate and infrastructure groups. Niall is Head of UK at Gamuda Land, part of the Gamuda Group, a global infrastructure and property developer with operations across Asia, Australia and Europe. Gamuda Land has delivered tens of thousands of homes globally and is now deploying significant balance sheet capital into the UK across offices, student housing, residential and large scale mixed use developments. In this conversation, Niall shares how graduating into the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis shaped his early career, why a detour into client side retail property proved unexpectedly formative, and how a mix of construction exposure, development experience and relationship building created the platform for his later moves. We discuss the pressure and perspective that comes from stepping into a family construction business during some of the toughest market conditions in recent memory, and how that experience changed his approach to risk, leadership and decision making. Niall also explains how Gamuda Land entered the UK, what global capital really looks for when choosing local partners, and why being an "active" investor matters when deploying capital into unfamiliar markets. We explore how investment rulebooks are written, when they get broken, and what happens when conviction is tested on projects that sit well outside the original plan. The conversation touches on one of the most closely watched developments in the City of London, how large scale schemes are underwritten today, and what global investors are really trying to solve for when backing UK real estate. Key Topics Covered in This Episode ✅ From GFC Graduate to Global Developer How early career setbacks, unexpected roles and timing shaped Niall's long term trajectory in real estate. ✅ Retail, Residential and Construction Why working across asset management, development and construction created a broader decision making toolkit. ✅ Inside a Global Capital Mindset How foreign balance sheet capital approaches UK real estate, partnerships and risk differently. ✅ When Investment Rulebooks Break Why some opportunities force investors to step outside their stated strategy and how conviction is tested at scale. ✅ Building a UK Platform for Gamuda Land How trust, culture and local knowledge underpin long term capital deployment in unfamiliar markets. And of course, I asked Niall the big question: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place would you invest in if you had £500 million to deploy? If you have thoughts or questions about this episode, drop them in the comments. I'd love to hear your take. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne, recruiting leadership talent for real estate funds, owners, investors, and developers.

In this episode of the People Property Place podcast, Nick Leslau, a real estate investing legend who has built and backed some of the most influential UK property vehicles of the last few decades, shares what really matters when markets turn and leverage starts to bite. Drawing on a career spanning Prestbury, listed platforms, major exits, and multiple cycles, Nick explains why credit, not property, has always been the real risk. He reflects on early lessons from the securitisation era, the danger signals he watches in bank behaviour and loan to value ratios, and why every property crash ultimately traces back to the same place, too much debt in the system. The conversation also explores what it takes to make decisions at scale over decades. Nick speaks candidly about insecurity, judgement, and why he has never believed success comes from being the smartest person in the room. Instead, he credits long term performance to surrounding yourself with sharper minds, staying wary of your own conviction, and keeping discipline when others chase narratives. A clear, experience led discussion on risk, capital allocation, and how People, Property and Place intersect inside real estate investing. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne, recruiting leadership talent for real estate funds, owners, investors, and developers.

In this episode of the People Property Place podcast, Harm Meijer draws on decades of experience across listed real estate and capital markets to unpack how cycles really play out when sentiment turns and leverage starts to bite. From his early career on the sell side to building ICAMAP, Harm explains why investors repeatedly misjudge market turning points, how incentives inside listed vehicles quietly shape long term outcomes, and why management alignment often matters more than the assets themselves. He reflects on the lessons learned during the Global Financial Crisis, the risks of catching falling knives, and the discipline required before capital is redeployed. The conversation also explores why listed real estate remains structurally misunderstood today, how private equity is exploiting inefficiencies in public markets, and what most investors get wrong about liquidity, exits, and governance. Harm shares how these insights influence ICAMAP's approach across strategies, and why conviction must be grounded in fundamentals rather than narratives. A clear, experience led discussion on risk, capital allocation, and how People, Property and Place intersect inside real estate investing. Real Estate Rules: The Investor's Guide to Picking Winners and Avoiding Losers in Listed Property - Amazon Link The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne, recruiting leadership talent for real estate funds, owners, investors, and developers.

This week, I sat down with Martin Towns to unpack a career built across brokerage, private equity, institutional fund management, and now global leadership, and what it takes to scale a real estate investment platform across multiple cycles and geographies. Martin is Global Head of Real Estate at M&G, responsible for the strategic direction and growth of a real estate business managing approximately $50bn of assets across 26 countries in Europe, Asia and North America. He has more than 20 years' experience in real estate investment management, including 15 years at M&G, and previously held roles at Close Brothers Investment Bank and Jones Lang LaSalle. In this conversation, Martin shares how growing up in rural Scotland led him into Land Economy, why his early years at JLL and Close Brothers shaped his understanding of risk and cycles, and how living through the Global Financial Crisis fundamentally influenced his approach to leverage, structuring and downside protection. We discuss why he joined M&G when the platform was still UK focused and internally funded, and how proprietary capital was used to seed strategies that later scaled into global third party businesses. Martin explains the evolution of M&G's residential and living platforms, the creation of its Capital Solutions business for large institutional investors, and the strategic thinking behind acquiring value add specialist Beaumont. We also explore investor behaviour across regions, the return of capital to core real estate, how global LP preferences are shifting, and what leadership looks like when you move from doing deals to setting strategy at scale. Key Topics Covered in This Episode ✅ From Rural Scotland to Global Real Estate Leadership How Martin's early career choices and formative experiences shaped his long term investment philosophy. ✅ Lessons from the GFC Why understanding cycles, leverage and macro risk remains critical for institutional real estate investors. ✅ Building a Global Platform at M&G How internal life assurance capital helped seed strategies that later scaled into multi billion pound global funds. ✅ Living, Capital Solutions and Value Add Why residential and living assets became institutionalised and how bespoke mandates and co investment changed M&G's growth trajectory. ✅ Acquiring Beaumont The rationale behind adding value add capability and how to integrate specialist teams without destroying culture or performance. And of course, I asked Martin the big question: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place would you invest in if you had £500 million to deploy? If you have thoughts or questions about this episode, drop them in the comments. I'd love to hear your take. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne, recruiting leadership talent for real estate funds, owners, investors, and developers.

This week, I sat down with Randeesh Sandhu to unpack a career that spans investment banking, real estate development, private credit, and public markets, and what it really takes to build a durable lending platform across multiple cycles. Randeesh is Co-Founder and CEO of Precede Capital Partners, founded in 2021 as a portfolio company of TowerBrook Capital Partners. Prior to Precede, he co-founded and led Urban Exposure Plc for nearly two decades, growing it into the UK's leading residential development financier. Under his leadership, the business deployed more than £1.7bn in development finance and over £3bn in real estate finance, before floating on the London Stock Exchange AIM market in 2018. In this conversation, Randeesh shares how he moved from credit derivatives at Deutsche Bank into real estate entrepreneurship, why underwriting discipline matters more than chasing deals, and how the post-GFC withdrawal of banks created the foundations of the UK's non bank lending market. We also discuss the realities of scaling a private credit platform, lessons from public markets, the personal cost of leadership, and how Precede is now positioning itself across large scale, living led real estate in the UK and Europe. Key Topics Covered in This Episode ✅ From Deutsche Bank to Real Estate Entrepreneur Why Randeesh left investment banking to build a property business and how that early leap shaped his approach to risk and conviction. ✅ Building and Scaling Urban Exposure How the platform evolved from equity and development into private credit, and what it takes to deploy billions without capital loss. ✅ Private Credit After the GFC Why non bank lenders emerged, how structured lending works in practice, and what institutional investors look for today. ✅ Lessons from Public Markets What Randeesh learned from listing on AIM, navigating volatility, and why private ownership can better support long term strategy. And of course, I asked Randeesh the big question: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place would you invest in if you had £500 million to deploy? If you have thoughts or questions about this episode, drop them in the comments. I'd love to hear your take. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne, recruiting leadership talent for real estate funds, owners, investors, and developers.

Europe's Housing Imbalance and the Living Opportunity with Tom Livelli, Partner and Head of Living Strategies, Europe at EQT Real Estate This week, I sat down with Tom Livelli to dive into how Europe's chronic housing undersupply, shifting renter behaviour, and capital rotation are shaping one of the most compelling living strategies in global real estate today.   Tom is a Partner with EQT Real Estate and Head of Living Strategies, Europe, based in Madrid. Before EQT, he helped build Greystar's South American business from a laptop in a Santiago coffee shop into a billion dollar platform, and previously led large scale residential and mixed use projects in the US, Latin America, and Central America. His career spans military housing, emerging markets, and now a pan European living platform backed by EQT's active ownership model.   We unpack how his experience across eleven countries informs his view of risk, liquidity, and political stability, why Europe's living sector now offers "higher return for lower risk," and how EQT is designing product, operations, and capital structures for the next phase of the cycle. Key Topics Covered in This Episode ✅ Building a Pan European Living Platform How EQT Real Estate has assembled a vertically integrated but not overbuilt living strategy across student housing and apartments, with local teams on the ground and a value add focus across multiple European markets.   ✅ From Military Housing and Central America to Greystar and EQT Why Tom's early work on military housing in the US, community building in Central America, and scaling Greystar in Chile gave him a deep appreciation for stable institutions, liquidity, and the realities of operating in emerging markets.   ✅ Designing a Higher Return Lower Risk Living Model How EQT is targeting urban, transit connected locations with minimal amenities, smaller minimum efficient scale, and lean operations to lower upfront investment, lift NOI margins, and tap deeper, more resilient segments of tenant demand.   ✅ Europe's Structural Housing Imbalance Why affordability pressures, later first time homeownership, and longer rental periods are driving an extraordinary surge in rental demand across Europe, and why Tom believes this supply demand gap gives the living sector significant room to run.   ✅ Capital, Cycles, and Europe versus the US How global institutions are viewing Europe relative to the US today, why accretive debt and repricing are creating a window for value add capital, and where Tom sees the most interesting opportunities by country and sector over the next few years.   And of course, I asked Tom the big question: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place would you invest in if you had £500 million to deploy? If you have thoughts or questions about this episode, drop them in the comments. I'd love to hear your take. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne, recruiting leadership talent for real estate funds, owners, investors, and developers.

The Future of European Real Estate: Strategy, Capital, and Structural Change with Simon Wallace, Head of UK Real Estate & Global Co-Head of Research - DWS. This week, I sat down with Simon Wallace to explore how Europe's real estate landscape is shifting - and what that really means for investors, fund managers, and operators in the next cycle. Simon began his career as an economist before moving into real estate on the eve of the financial crisis. Since then, he has become one of the most influential strategists in the industry, shaping how research informs underwriting, capital allocation, and long-term thematic positioning across Europe. We unpack how his role evolved from research to strategy to leadership, what today's investors truly value, and why the coming decade could be defined by wellness, tech adoption, and a deeper rethink of how cities function. Key Topics Covered in This Episode ✅ From Economist to Strategist - How starting his career during the GFC accelerated his learning and shaped his investment philosophy ✅ Research as a Value Driver - Why research now has a formal voice in investment decisions and how strategy has become central to performance ✅ Building Modern Teams - The behavioural traits, breadth of experience, and challenge culture needed for next-generation research and strategy roles ✅ Structural Themes - How wellness, demographic shifts, and autonomous vehicles could reshape demand, cities, and opportunity sets ✅ Capital & Cycles - Why Europe may be quietly entering a recovery phase and how global capital is viewing the UK, Germany, and the living sectors And of course, I asked Simon the big question: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place would you invest in if you had £500 million to deploy? If you have thoughts or questions about this episode, drop them in the comments - I'd love to hear your take. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne, recruiting leadership talent for real estate funds, owners, investors, and developers.

Technology, Talent, And The Future Of Purpose Built Living with Bay Downing, Joint CEO of Downing and Co Founder of Aboria Capital. One of the UK's leading vertically integrated living platforms with 6000 plus operational beds across top university cities. This week, I sat down with Bay Downing to explore how a second generation family business is evolving into a tech enabled, institutionally backed platform shaping the future of student accommodation and urban living. With property in his DNA, Bay has spent the last eight years working across investment, development, operations and marketing, while helping co found Aboria Capital, Downing's investment management arm. Now Joint CEO alongside Sally O'Brien, he is focused on scaling a business built on legacy, discipline and innovation. We discuss how AI, automation and data intelligence are transforming operations, how global investors are reallocating into specialist living sectors, and why PBSA and co living continue to present some of the strongest structural tailwinds in UK real estate. Key Topics Covered In This Episode ✅ The Downing Journey How a family business grew from HMOs in Liverpool to one of the UK's largest integrated PBSA platforms with more than 6000 beds and 200 employees. ✅ Technology And Operational Excellence How AI driven enquiry management, outbound calling, workflow automation and predictive analytics are reshaping leasing speeds, customer experience and pricing accuracy. ✅ Institutionalising A Legacy Business Why Bay co founded Aboria Capital, how the partnership with Jessica Hardman emerged, and what investors are seeking from specialist managers today. ✅ Global Demand And Market Shifts Insights into international student flows, including a 250 percent surge from the US and Canada, and what that means for UK supply and returns. ✅ ESG, Energy And Responsibility Bay's role as Director of On Site Energy and how data led energy solutions are helping Downing reduce consumption, lower costs and improve sustainability outcomes for residents and partners. ✅ Leadership, Succession And Culture What Bay has learned working alongside Sally O'Brien, the importance of alignment across departments, and how Downing continues to evolve without losing its family ethos. And of course, I asked Bay the big question: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place would you invest in if you had £500 million to deploy? If you have thoughts or questions about this episode, drop them in the comments. I would love to hear your take. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne, recruiting leadership talent for real estate funds, owners, investors, and developers.

This week, I sat down with Jeffrey Reder to unpack how the US real estate market is evolving, why the middle market is delivering some of the most compelling opportunities today, and what it really takes to outperform through multiple cycles. Jeff began his career in corporate finance at Salomon Brothers in New York before transitioning into direct real estate. Since joining CenterSquare in 2006, he has helped build one of the most respected value-add platforms in the country. Today he serves as Portfolio Manager for the firm's Value-Added Fund series and leads a nationwide team focused on sourcing, underwriting and executing industrial, residential and essential-service retail strategies. We explore how capital, pricing, and investor behaviour are shifting, why discipline around basis and underwriting has never mattered more, and how CenterSquare consistently finds opportunities others overlook. Key Topics Covered In This Episode ✅ Off-Market Edge – How CenterSquare sources more than 80 percent of its transactions off market and why clarity around the "buy box" creates meaningful alpha ✅ The Power of Small Is Mighty – Why infill industrial, essential-service retail and smaller, operationally intensive assets continue to outperform in today's market ✅ Cycle Discipline – How the team identified valuation risk early and exited multifamily positions before cap rates moved, protecting performance and investor capital ✅ Investment Frameworks – The Five Cs and Three As guiding CenterSquare's philosophy and how they shape conviction, capital deployment and exit discipline ✅ US Market Opportunity – What global LPs are saying about deploying into the US and why forward supply dynamics may set up one of the most interesting entry points in years ✅ Building a Platform – Lessons from 20 years growing a national value-add business, developing talent, and building repeatable processes that drive consistency And of course, I asked Jeff the big question: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place would you invest in if you had £500 million to deploy? If you have thoughts or questions about this episode, drop them in the comments. I would love to hear your take. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne, recruiting leadership talent for real estate funds, owners, investors, and developers.

The Future of European Real Estate: Capital, Cycles, and Opportunity with Simon Martin, Senior Partner, Chief Investment Strategist & Head of Research - Tristan Capital Partners. €15+ billion AUM leading institutional grade, full-service private equity real estate firm. This week, I sat down with Simon Martin to unpack how Europe's real estate market is changing and what it means for investors, fund managers, and entrepreneurs today. Simon has helped grow Tristan from a start-up spin-out into a €15 billion manager. For more than twenty years, he has experienced every major market shift and brings a rare perspective on how capital, strategy, and driving returns are changing. We explore what it takes to launch a business in today's environment, how investor priorities are pivoting, and why Europe may be entering one of its most interesting phases in a generation.   Key Topics Covered In This Episode ✅ The Changing Nature of Core Capital – Why the next generation of investors will look very different and what they are seeking today ✅ Building Through Cycles – Lessons from launching a business during the financial crisis and scaling through recovery ✅ Starting a Platform Today – Why creating a new investment business now is harder than ever ✅ European Capital Flows – What global investors are saying about deploying into Europe and where the opportunity set is ✅ Reflections and Lessons – The importance of speed, focus, and coherence in portfolio construction, entry and exit ✅ Looking Ahead – How credit, resilience, and operational performance will shape the next cycle   And of course, I asked Simon the big question: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place would you invest in if you had £500 million to deploy? If you have thoughts or questions about this episode, drop them in the comments. I would love to hear your take. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne, recruiting leadership talent for real estate funds, owners, investors, and developers.

What does it take to design and deliver a £2 billion real-estate platform serving over a million UK pensioners - while keeping a long-term focus in a short-term world? This week, I sat down with Alistair Smith, Head of Real Estate at Border to Coast Pensions Partnership, to unpack his 30-year career spanning advisory, private-equity, and institutional real estate - and the leadership lessons learned through every market cycle. Alistair's journey includes senior roles at abrdn, where he led European real-estate investment management, before joining Border to Coast in 2022 to launch its UK Direct and Global Indirect Pooled Funds - now managing roughly £2 billion across 11 partner funds. We discuss navigating mergers, restructuring portfolios, and how to build enduring value in an industry defined by change. Key Topics Covered In This Episode ✅ From Advisory to Institutional - The path from chartered surveyor to head of real estate ✅ Mergers & Change - Lessons from the abrdn / Standard Life integration ✅ Redundancy & Resilience - How to rebuild and refocus after a career shock ✅ Building Border to Coast - How to pool 11 pension funds and create a £2 billion platform ✅ Long-Term Value - Why durable income beats short-term churn in real-estate investing ✅ Market Outlook - Where he sees opportunity as core real estate rebalances Oh, and one last thing… In every episode, I ask each guest: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place they'd invest in if they had £500 million at their disposal? Alistair's answer reflected discipline, clarity, and a decades-long belief in the power of durable income and quality assets

What does it take to stay relevant through four decades, across every market cycle, and still have the hunger to build something new? This week, I sat down with Will Rowson, Founder of Newland Capital Partners, to unpack his 35-year journey across global real estate — from gritty East London industrial estates to leading Europe's largest investment platform — and what it really takes to adapt, evolve, and keep learning. Will's career includes senior roles as EMEA CIO at CBRE Investment Management, Equity Partner at Hodes Weill, and CEO of Global Student Accommodation (GSA), where he helped raise over $2 billion in equity. Now, through Newland Capital Partners, he advises leading European managers on capital strategy, equity raising, and navigating a market in flux. We discuss the power of reinvention, lessons from leadership, and where he believes opportunity lies in the "living" and logistics sectors over the next cycle.   Key Topics Covered In This Episode: ✅ From Strutt & Parker to CBRE — Lessons from the early days of valuation and leasing ✅ Across the Cycles — What 35 years in European real estate has taught him about timing ✅ Facing Cancer — How a life-changing diagnosis reshaped his outlook and leadership ✅ The Squeezed Middle — Why mid-sized fund managers must adapt or consolidate ✅ Continuation Funds — What they reveal about today's market ✅ Living & Logistics — Why these two sectors still offer the best risk-adjusted returns   Oh, and one last thing… In every episode, I ask each guest: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place they'd invest in if they had £500 million at their disposal? Will's answer was pragmatic, data-driven — and full of hard-won perspective

What does it take to walk away from a successful private-equity career and build your own real-estate investment platform from scratch? This week, I sat down with Anthony Maxwell-Jones, Founder & Managing Partner at Valorem Investment Partners, to unpack his journey from the early days at Mercer / Castleforge to founding Valorem - and what he's learned along the way about timing, risk, and backing yourself. Anthony has quietly built one of the UK's most interesting boutique investment platforms, deploying over £80 million across offices, student, residential, hotel, and strategic-land assets - achieving a 20 % IRR and 2.2× MOIC. We discuss how he spotted opportunity in the wake of the GFC, why he left a newly raised fund to go it alone, and the lessons that came from building Valorem through Brexit, Covid, and a volatile rate cycle. ⸻ Key Topics Covered In This Episode: ✅ From Castleforge to Valorem - How Anthony transitioned from analyst to entrepreneur ✅ The Leap - What gave him the confidence to found his own firm at 27 ✅ Covid Chaos - How a “malicious virus clause” saved a £90 million office scheme ✅ Family Office Capital - Building trust, track record & long-term partnerships ✅ Discipline & Patience - Investing through a stagnant market without pressure to deploy ✅ Future Focus - Why defence infrastructure and core-plus offices are on his radar ⸻ Oh, and one last thing… In every episode, I ask each guest: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place they'd invest in if they had £500 million at their disposal? Anthony's answer did not disappoint

What happens when the global order that shaped real estate for decades begins to fracture? This week, I sat down with José Pellicer, Founder Partner at Evonite, to unpack how de-globalisation, contrarian bets, and a smarter approach to thematics will shape the winners of the next 5–10 years. José brings a sharp, historically grounded perspective on risk pricing, macro shifts, and how to identify real opportunities in a noisy market. From railway mania in the 1840s to data centres today, he explains why blindly following themes isn't enough — and where nimble managers can still find edge. We explore how the investment landscape is changing, who stands to win, and the mindset required to build conviction in a fragmented world. ⸻ Key Topics Covered In This Episode: ✅ De-Globalisation — The end of the “safe seas” era and why it matters for real estate ✅ The Next Decade — Who wins as global power dynamics shift ✅ Thematics vs Bottom-Up — Why real opportunities aren't found by following the herd ✅ Contrarian Bets — Where pricing risk correctly can create outsized returns ✅ Blackstone & Bad Emperors — Lessons from history and market cycles ✅ Opportunity for Real Estate — How nimble managers can thrive in polarised markets ⸻ Oh, and one last thing… In every episode, I ask each guest: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place they would invest in if they had £500m at their disposal? José's answer did not disappoint

Building a Pan-European Real Estate Powerhouse | Christophe Garbe (GARBE) Subscribe To My Channel For More Videos:

What happens when billions of pounds of pension money flow into real estate? Can creative deal structures solve the UK's housing and regeneration challenges in a high-rate environment? This week, I sat down with James Agar, Head of Real Estate Origination at PIC Capital, the investment arm of Pension Insurance Corporation plc, to unpack how institutional capital is reshaping housing, regeneration, and long-income strategies across the UK. James takes us inside PIC's £50bn balance sheet and explains how his team sources, structures, and deploys capital across Build to Rent, affordable housing, senior living, and major regeneration schemes like Miller's Quay. We discuss how regeneration leases and innovative financing models are unlocking projects, how ESG and social value are being embedded into institutional strategies, and why the lines between real estate and infrastructure are blurring faster than ever.   Key Topics Covered In This Episode: ✅ Institutional Capital in Action – How PIC invests £50bn into long-term, inflation-linked real estate ✅ Regeneration Leases – Creative structures unlocking major housing and urban projects ✅ Affordable Housing – Partnerships with Homes England and Muse to deliver low-carbon schemes ✅ BTR & Living Sectors – Why single-family housing and suburban BTR are key growth areas ✅ Viability Challenges – Making deals stack in a high interest rate world ✅ ESG & Social Value – How PIC aligns pension liabilities with real-world impact ✅ Real Estate vs Infrastructure – The blurring lines shaping future investment strategies   Oh, and one last thing… In every episode, I ask each guest: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place they would invest in if they had £500m at their disposal? James's answer did not disappoint

Manish Gudka | Baptism of Fire to £1bn Deals | People Property Place Podcast Subscribe To My Channel For More Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLeY7xnoJ08uYlGb-Y0j96A For many, real estate careers are about steady growth, one sector, one model. But Manish Gudka's story at Aprirose shows what it takes to adapt, survive, and thrive across cycles. From the family soap business in Kenya seeding property investments in the UK, to steering Aprirose through the Global Financial Crisis and beyond, this is a journey about resilience, reinvention, and family values. In this episode, Manish reflects on his baptism of fire managing 14 tenants in Manchester, the hard lessons from 2007–09, and what it's like building a £1bn platform side-by-side with his 84-year-old father, who still takes the Tube into the office. We talk candidly about capital raising, investor trust, and why Aprirose has deliberately resisted the blind-pool fund model in favour of long-term deal-by-deal partnerships. This is a rare, wide-ranging conversation with a CEO who rarely speaks publicly — packed with insights on markets, leadership, and the realities of running a family-backed platform. Key Topics Covered In This Episode: ✅ Baptism of Fire – What a 14-tenant Manchester property taught him early in his career ✅ Cycles & Crises – How the 2007–09 crash reshaped Aprirose's strategy ✅ Investor Trust – Why transparency and alignment matter more than structures ✅ Family & Leadership – What it's really like working with his father every day ✅ Capital Raising – The deal-by-deal approach and why Aprirose never launched a blind pool fund ✅ Resilience – The mindset needed to firefight tenants, banks, and downturns ✅ Growth Vision – Where Aprirose sees opportunity in the next decade Oh, and one last thing… In every episode, I ask each guest: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place they would invest in if they had £500m at their disposal? Don't miss Manish's answer in this episode! Got any thoughts or questions about this podcast? Feel free to share them in the comments, I'm always up for a chat! And if you're enjoying what I'm putting out, don't forget to hit subscribe and turn on the notification bell so you'll never miss out on the next podcast.

From billion-euro retail deals to leading Europe's largest apartment hotel operator, and now steering one of the fastest-growing healthcare real estate platforms, Simon Betty's career has spanned multiple cycles, asset classes, and countries. In this episode, Simon shares how his early career choices set him on a path into retail, how he navigated Hammerson through some of its most challenging moments, and what it was really like to run the €2.5B Project Jewel transaction in Ireland. We dive into the lessons he learned leading through the brutality of Covid, why the macro always wins in real estate, and how healthcare has become one of the most thematically supported sectors in Europe today. This is a candid conversation about deals, leadership, and how to thrive in sectors that are built for the future. Key Topics Covered In This Episode: ✅ Project Jewel – Inside the high-stakes €2.5B Ireland loan portfolio acquisition ✅ Retail Realities – The brutal impact of Covid and the £800M rescue rights issue ✅ Macro vs Micro – Why timing beats talent in determining real estate returns ✅ Leadership Lessons – How saying “yes” shaped his career across multiple sectors ✅ Hospitality Shift – What running Adina taught him about operations and culture ✅ Healthcare Growth – Why cure-based facilities are becoming Europe's next big asset class ✅ The Future – Where capital is heading in European real estate over the next decade Oh, and one last thing… In every episode, I ask each guest: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place they would invest in if they had £500m at their disposal? Don't miss Simon's answer in this episode! Got any thoughts or questions about this podcast? Feel free to share them in the comments, I'm always up for a chat! And if you're enjoying what I'm putting out, don't forget to hit subscribe and turn on the notification bell so you'll never miss out on the next podcast.

Leo Shapland, Chief Executive of the King's Cross Estate, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast

Jay Kwan, Managing Director and Head of Europe at QuadReal Property Group, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast  this week. We cover Jay's global journey from humble beginnings in LA, to Lehman Brothers, to leading international investment teams at Soros and TPG, and now spearheading QuadReal's growth across Europe. Jay shares hard-won lessons on capital cycles, navigating workouts, and building trust-based partnerships across multiple markets. He breaks down the thinking behind QuadReal's platform strategy, sector convictions, and how they deploy long-term capital flexibly across the risk curve. If you're interested in global real estate investing, institutional capital, platform-building, or market timing, this episode is worth your time. Key Topics Covered in This Episode: •          Breaking into real estate through Lehman Brothers and surviving the “Squid Game” analyst culling •          Gaining an edge through international experience across Asia, Europe, the US and Russia •          Learning through workouts, restructurings and JV fallouts that shaped his investment approach •          Building QuadReal in Europe from scratch. First hires, first deals, and their conviction-led strategy •          Why cultural and ethical alignment matter more than strategy •          Want to partner with QuadReal? Jay shares what they look for in an operating partner •          Navigating market uncertainty and geopolitical risk while staying agile •          The myth of permanence and how sectors can shift faster than expected ·    Why you shouldn't chase a pay cheque, instead focus on stacking skills, take international chances, and look for asymmetric opportunities. And finally... With £500m to invest, which People, what Property, and which Place would he choose? Enjoying the show? Follow and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. The People Property Place Podcast  is powered by Rockbourne: Giving real estate investors a difficult choice, who to hire. If you're serious about hiring top real estate talent in 2025 and want to do it differently, DM me on LinkedIn. #realestate #privateequity #property #podcast #investor

James Craig, Co-Founder of Oval Real Estate, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast this week.   We discuss James's journey from surveying to running a diversified real estate investment business. He reflects on pivotal career decisions, key deals, and the thinking behind Oval's sector-agnostic strategy.   James shares lessons from launching Oval in a down market, building high-trust partnerships, and navigating complex development and regeneration projects. He also gives his view on current market dynamics, the role of public-private collaboration, and what it takes to build a successful, enduring real estate business.   If you're interested in real estate entrepreneurship, platform-building, public-sector partnership, or value-add investing, this episode is for you.   Key Topics Covered in This Episode:   ·       Betting on Fit Over Convention ·       Why he walked away from his APC and corporate surveying path early, in favour of an entrepreneurial property trading-led environment. ·       Skill stacking – how he learned to originate, manage, and exit deals across Europe ·       Reality of trying, (unsuccessfully) to match deals with capital, and the lessons learnt ·       Oval's origin story, approach to business, investment thesis and partnership philosophy ·       How they have pivoted during market cycles, and have deliberately avoided single-sector exposure. ·       Inside scoop on what it takes to have a successful public & private partnership ·       We discuss key deals, from Digbeth and the Langham Estate to Mayfair offices and the £900m Henderson portfolio ·       Message to would-be founders: "Don't wait. It doesn't matter if it's a good or bad market. You've just got to go for it."   And finally... With £500m to invest, which People, what Property, and which Place would he choose?   Enjoying the show?   Follow and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.   The People Property Place Podcast  is powered by Rockbourne: Giving real estate investors a difficult choice, who to hire. If you're serious about hiring top real estate talent in 2025 and want to do it differently, DM me on LinkedIn.   #realestate #property #podcast #regeneration #realestateinvestment #placemaking #offices #birmingham #london

Kevin Mofid, Head of Industrial & Logistics Research at Savills, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast

Philip Stott, Co-Founder of Caisson IO, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast this week. We discuss his early career journey to co-founding Caisson IO, a boutique investment management firm that integrates data and technology to, invest and manage multi-let industrial assets across the UK. Philip shares valuable insights on the role of data in real estate, building a tech-enabled investment platform, and how their approach to asset management has evolved. If you're interested in real estate investment management, data-driven strategies, or scaling a specialised platform in the industrial sector, this episode is for you.   Key Topics Covered in This Episode: ·   Early exposure to real estate and how Philip's family business influenced his entrepreneurial mindset ·   How Philip's career evolved from traditional surveying to tech sales and then pivoting into investment management ·   Insights from his experience at Yardi, including building their European platform and understanding financial systems and applying this learing to the investment management space ·   How they launched the business - raising capital from friends and family ·   How data-driven insights help Caisson IO identify market trends and opportunities in multi-let industrial assets ·   The resilience and appeal of multi-let industrial assets as a stable income-generating asset class ·   Building a strong, collaborative team and fostering a culture of empowerment for business growth ·   Caisson IO's plans for future growth, leveraging specialixed expertise and data-backed strategies   And finally... With £500m to invest, which People, what Property, and which Place would Philip choose? Enjoying the show? Follow and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. The People Property Place Podcast

Philip Gadsden, Managing Partner at Orchard Street Investment Management, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast

Marcus Meijer, Founder and CEO of MARK, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast

Jon Lurie, Founder of Realty Corporation, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast

Gawain Smart, CEO of International Campus Group, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast

Dean Harrison, Founder of Harleyford Capital, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast

Revisiting: How Developers Are Becoming City Builders – with Morwenna Hall, COO, Related Argent In this special recap episode, we revisit one of our most thought-provoking conversations — with Morwenna Hall, Chief Operating Officer at Related Argent. As we reflect on the highlights from this episode, we explore how Morwenna redefines the role of the modern developer — far beyond bricks, leases, and rent reviews. From rebuilding schools and delivering healthcare infrastructure to cultural placemaking and tenant matchmaking, her insights challenge outdated models of real estate and asset management.

Natan Lempert, Co-Founder and CEO of Built AI, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast

Keith Breslauer, Managing Director & Senior Partner at Patron Capital Partners, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast this week.   Please note that this conversation was originally released on the 18th July 2024, and we have decided to re-release it given the recent news that Mitsubishi Estate Co. has acquired a majority stake in European private equity property fund manager Patron Capital.   In this conversation, we trace Keith's journey from a self-funded entrepreneur in New York to building one of Europe's leading opportunistic real estate investment firms - Patron Capital Partners, with over €5.4bn raised across 17 countries.   Keith is honest, reflective, and deeply driven by purpose. He doesn't shy away from the challenges and lessons learned from nearly three decades in private equity real estate.   If you're interested in real estate fund management, distressed investing, fundraising, or leadership driven by long-term thinking and values, this episode is jammed packed full of wisdom.   Key Topics Covered In This Episode:   •       Early career lessons and building a software business to fund his education •       How a career in secured credit at Lehman Brothers led him into European real estate •       Why he left Lehman to start Patron and how he raised his first fund •       What made Patron's hybrid local partner model so effective across Europe •       Alignment between LPs, Patron's internal team, and local operating partners •       Why discipline on leverage preserved Patron's position through GFC and COVID •       What he learned from raising and deploying seven funds •       We discuss the most recently €860m raise for Fund VII •       The opportunity set today - distress, ESG, supply-demand mispricing •       Fund structure, deal sizing, and where specifically Patron deploys it capital •       The evolution of his investor base and the shift away from US LPs •       How political and macro uncertainty is affecting decision-making •       Reflections on legacy, purpose, and why charity work has become so central to him   And finally… With £500m to invest – which People, what Property, and which Place would he choose?   Enjoying the show? Follow and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.   The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne – Giving Real Estate Investors a difficult choice of who to hire.   If you're serious about adding game-changing talent in 2025 and are open to doing it differently, DM me on LinkedIn.   #realestate #privateequity #property #fundmanagement #podcast

In this episode, I chat with Kevin Aitchison, MBE and Managing Director – Head of Europe at Savills Investment Management, about his remarkable journey from building surveyor to being an accomplished CEO, having led firms such as ING Real Estate, Knight Frank Investment Management, and Savills Investment Management's European platform. Kevin is unassuming, empathetic, honest, open, thoughtful, self-depreciating, humble and is not the stereo typical caricature of a CEO that immediately springs to mind. But boy oh boy does he speak with such authority, wisdom and perspective. If you're interested in leadership, real estate investment management, personal development, lessons learnt, or finding meaning beyond the bottom line, this episode is packed with gems.   Key Topics Covered In This Episode: ·    Early moves from building surveying into asset management and then leadership ·    Different skill sets needed to start something vs scale something ·    His take on leadership, the Peter Principle, and sticking to your values ·    The phone call he thought was a hoax that turned out to be an MBE for services to wheelchair rugby ·    Market views, structural shifts, and where he sees the opportunity ·    Therapy, mental health, and the regrets he lives with due to the family time he sacrificed ·    Fear of failure as a motivator, and how he's learned to reframe it ·    Why he writes about leadership, musings, family and mental health on LinkedIn ·    Advice for people earlier on in their careers ·    And so much more – the above summary does this conversation a dis-service!   And finally... With £500m to invest – which People, what Property, and which Place would he choose?   Enjoying the show? Follow and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne - Giving Real Estate Investors a difficult choice of who to hire. If you're serious about adding game-changing talent in 2025 and are open to doing it differently, DM me on LinkedIn.

In this episode, I sat down with the absolute powerhouse that is Zena Couppey, CEO of Altum Group, to unpack her extraordinary journey from leaving school at 16 to leading Altum, a rapidly scaling global fund administration business more than 200 people across six international offices. If you're interested in business building, private markets, fund administration, or scaling a high-performance team, this one's worth a listen.   Key Topics Covered In This Episode: * Leaving school at 16 to join Ernst & Young full time * How she led a management buyout, and rebrand of Altum, raising PE money, and growing the business from 35 to 200+ people across six offices * Using tech to optimise, and drive efficiencies across the business * Her approach to client acquisition, retention, and why service trumps scale * Why culture beats strategy – and how she leads by example * Key trends in capital flows – including the rise of Middle Eastern family offices and JV structures * The growing focus on operational real estate, life sciences, and healthcare assets * How she balances motherhood, leadership, and a global travel schedule Advice for women returning to work and what true equity in the workplace looks like * What makes a great fund administration partner – and why most providers still get it wrong * Zena also shares what she would tell her younger self, and why being underestimated was her biggest motivator.   And finally... With £500m to invest – which People, what Property, and which Place would she choose?   Enjoying the show? Follow and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.   The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne - Giving Real Estate Investors a difficult choice of who to hire.   If you're serious about adding game-changing talent in 2025 and are open to doing it differently, DM me on LinkedIn.

In this episode, I sat down with Jermaine Browne - co-founder of Re:shape Living Group and Ark Co-Living - to unpack his journey from urban sociology student to becoming one of the UK's leading voices in co-living, regeneration and alternative living. If you're interested in planning, entrepreneurial grit, urban renewal or the business of building places where people actually want to live, this is essential listening. Key Topics Covered In This Episode: ·    How early exposure to regeneration shaped his purpose ·    Breaking into the real estate industry ·    Lessons from a decade in public sector planning roles ·    Co-founding Re:shape Living, during Covid and how he financed the business ·    How he leveraged partnerships with trusted consultants ·    How Ark Wembley became their proof of concept in co-living ·    Building a team, and moving from a founder-led to an institutional-ready business ·    Why he has such a clear focus on delivering policy-compliant affordable housing ·    Practical advice for breaking into real estate from non-traditional backgrounds And finally… With £500m to invest – which People, what Property, and which Place would he choose? Jermaine shares his answer, focused on housing delivery, backing next-gen founders, and building the homes people need today. Enjoying the show? Follow and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne – Giving Real Estate Investors, a difficult choice who to hire. If you're serious about adding game-changing talent in 2025 and are open to doing it differently, DM me on LinkedIn.

In this episode, I sit down with Sir David Michels (the first Sir on the pod!) – former CEO of Hilton, Deputy Chairman of Marks & Spencer, and Non-Executive Director at British Land and EasyJet – to explore his stellar corporate and non-executive career. If you're interested in leadership, decision-making and the realities of running capital-intensive businesses, this conversation offers direct insight from someone who's done it at the highest level.   Key Topics Covered In This Episode: ·   From school dropout, waiting tables to building one of the most impressive corporate CV's ·   Brilliant basics - why asking questions, listening and understanding people has shaped his approach to leadership ·   International Growth - Taking UK hotels to the US market ·   Turning Around Stakis - Navigating a multi-bank restructure involing 27 parties ·   Hilton & Ladbrokes - Managing global brands, major acquisitions and the shift from owner to flag ·   Real Estate vs. Operations - Why hotel ownership carries more risk than many investors realise ·   Life as a Non-Exec - The role of the board, the CEO relationship, and where governance adds value ·   Michels & Taylor - Building a hotel advisory and management business ·   Career Perspective - On luck, pressure, regrets, and how success evolves over time   And finally... With £500m to invest - which People, what Property, and which Place would he choose? Sir David shares his answer, shaped by decades in hospitality and a long-term view on real estate value. Enjoying the show? Follow and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne – Recruiting Leadership & Future Leadership hires for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors & Developers.

Sue Clayton - Senior Independent Advisor & Non Exec How do you stay at the top of your game across four decades in commercial real estate? In this episode, I sit down with Sue Clayton, former Managing Director of Capital Markets at CBRE, board member, investor, adviser, and Co-Founder of Real Estate Balance - to break down a career built on trust, consistency, and integrity. We cover how Sue rose through the ranks in a male-dominated industry, her approach to building long-term client relationships, and how she transitioned into a successful portfolio career after leaving CBRE. Sue shares what it was like advising on billions of pounds of transactions, her board experience with companies like SEGRO, Blue Coast Capital and Helical, and why she's passionate about driving greater inclusion across the industry. If you care about leadership, longevity, and building trust this episode is for you. Key Topics Covered In This Episode: * A 40-Year Career In Commercial Real Estate – From graduate at Richard Ellis to international CBRE board member. * Building Trust in Brokerage – How she built a reputation through discretion, detail, and doing the right thing. * Building CBRE Capital Markets – What it took to lead during mergers, acquisitions, and global expansion. * Leadership Lessons – How to manage people, politics, and priorities Why saying “no” to a deal can build more credibility than chasing fees. * Transitioning to Board Roles – The skills and mindset shift needed to go from operator to advisor. * What makes an effective Non-Exec in today's market. * Supporting the Next Generation – The story behind Real Estate Balance and Pathways to Property. Oh, and one last thing… In every episode, I ask each guest: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place they would invest in if they had £500m at their disposal? Don't miss Sue's answer - especially if you're interested in long-term value and social impact. Got any thoughts or questions about this podcast? Drop them in the comments, I'd love to hear from you. And if you're enjoying the show, hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne – Recruiting Leadership & Future Leadership hires for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors & Developers. #realestate #property #nonexec #advisory

Alastair Mullens is Managing Director - Residential at Canary Wharf Group. He joined the business in 2018  to establish the group's Build-to-Rent platform, Vertus. He now oversees all the residential functions at Canary Wharf.  Prior to this he spent nine years with Hamptons International & Countrywide Group based in London and Hong Kong, working across residential management, leasing, and development.  I sat down with Alastair  to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics: Alistair's entry into real estate and early career steps, including his move to Hong Kong What drew him to Canary Wharf Group and the scale of the challenge Do people REALLY want to live and work in Canary Wharf? How CWG is evolving into a live, work play, fully mixed-use, 24/7 neighbourhood Rethinking residential: his views on product design, amenity relevance, and market alignment Why ‘Vertus' and vertical integration matters - and how it shapes delivery, operations, and brand experience Plus candid takes on culture, service, execution, and so much more Oh and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Alistair would invest should he have £500m of capital at his disposal. Catch the full episode which is live on Youtube, Spotify and Apple NOW! The People Property Place Podcast

Ian Worboys is CEO and Co-Founder of EGLS, a pan-European logistics platform focused on sustainable development. With 40+ years in real estate, he's led major businesses including P3 Logistic Parks and Panattoni, and is known for building high-performing teams and scaling platforms across Europe. I sat down with Ian to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics: ·   How he got into real estate, his early moves, and how discovering dyslexia later in life shaped his approach. ·   Lessons from navigating the highs and lows of a long corporate career ·   How personal loss drove him to become a book author. ·   Why timing and conviction has led to launching EGLS, and why now presents a rare market opportunity ·   How he raised capital, built alignment with backers, and assembled a high-performance pan European team at EGLS ·   EGLS three clear strategies: new development, retrofitting existing assets, and urban aggregation. ·   Whether you're a property developer, investor, or just curious, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.   Oh and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Ian would invest should he have £500m of capital at his disposal. Catch the full episode which is live on Youtube, Spotify and Apple NOW! The People Property Place Podcast

Episode 122 — Damien Sharkey, Managing Director at HUB In this episode of People Property Place, we sit down with Damien Sharkey, Managing Director at HUB, to unpack how he rose from a family joinery workshop in rural Ireland to leading one of the UK's most forward-thinking development firms. We dive deep into: The evolution of Build-to-Rent (BTR) in the UK HUB's strategy behind converting “stranded assets” into thriving co-living spaces Navigating development in today's challenging economic climate How architecture, business acumen, and grit shaped Damien's path to the top The DNA of a future-ready development team Whether you're a property developer, architect, investor, or just curious about the real workings of urban regeneration and institutional residential, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.   Key Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro & Damien's early influences 05:00 – From architecture to real estate 12:30 – Breaking into BTR 20:45 – The co-living shift 32:00 – Managing risk in uncertain markets 40:15 – Building high-performance development teams 48:00 – HUB's “People, Planet, Progress” framework 54:30 – Advice for future developers   Oh and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Damien would invest should he have £500m of capital at his disposal. Catch the full episode which is live on Youtube, Spotify and Apple NOW! The People Property Place Podcast

​​Carlo Matta is the CEO of Nido Living, a leading European student accommodation platform, where he drives growth and oversees delivery across the portfolio. He previously led CA Ventures' pan-European PBSA business, managing development, acquisitions, and operations and has held roles at Actis, Hines Europe, and he brings over 25 years of international real estate experience across Europe, the US, and emerging markets. Carlo is a qualified architect and holds degrees from Politecnico di Torino and the University of Texas at Austin. I sat down with Carlo, to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics: How he got into real estate and his early life + perspectives Formative, early career moves & the transition from architecture to developer Returning to university at 34 years old – taking a step back, to leap forward Staying curious and building team cultures focused on fun and learning Exploring the drivers that influence product design & amenity level within an asset Matching return expectations to risk Building a top-tier, international team Creating, not waiting for opportunity and the importance of standing out Having the courage to know when to pivot, and change tact Nido – and the road to 25,000 beds by 2031.   Oh and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Carlo would invest should he have £500m of capital at his disposal. Catch the full episode which is live on Youtube, Spotify and Apple NOW! The People Property Place Podcast

Simon Cooke is a founding shareholder and board member of Catella APAM, with over 40 years of experience in UK commercial real estate. He co-founded APAM in 2009 and he chairs the Investment Committee and shapes strategy, asset management, and client relationships. Simon recently launched the firm's first listed equities fund, securing £102.2 million to target undervalued UK-listed property companies. His background includes senior roles at Deutsche Asset Management, Close Brothers' and CBRE giving him deep insight into both public and private markets. I sat down with Simon, to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics: ·   Early career steps, Rugby and what drew him into a career in real estate ·   The story behind the name "APAM" ·   The value of focusing on your strengths and staying in your lane ·   Starting APAM by capitalising on distressed and receivership opportunities during the GFC ·   Evolving the model to partner with international private equity, by providing asset-level expertise ·   How he and Will built, scaled, and reasons for part exiting to Catella ·   Structuring JV's with partners, and aligning incentives ·   Choosing the right opportunities over chasing sector trends ·   Balancing personal circumstances with professional ambitions ·   Why now is the right moment to launch a UK equity fund Oh and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Simon would invest should he have £500m of capital at his disposal. Catch the full episode which is live on Youtube, Spotify and Apple NOW! The People Property Place Podcast

​​ OUT NOW – Michael Kovacs, Founding Partner at Castleforge, a research-based, thematic, vertically integrated real estate investor, investing in the UK and Europe on behalf of pension funds, institutions and individuals, sits down with me on the People Property Place Podcast

Piers Slater is the Founder & CEO of Reef Origin with over two decades of experience building and scaling real estate platforms. After founding Reef Estates in 2001 (trading as Reef Group from 2017), he grew the business to over £2bn under development management. In 2024, he co-founded Reef Origin, focusing on sectors at the intersection of real assets and innovation - life sciences, Industry 4.0, digital, energy infrastructure, and venture capital - with a completed portfolio value exceeding £20bn under development management. Piers holds a BSc in Estate Management and an MSc in Property Investment Finance, and is a Chartered Surveyor. He is also a founding investor and board director of Global Space Futures, Perpetual Atomics, and Xange.com, and sits on the boards of Didcot First and the Stevenage Development Board. I sat down with Piers to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics:   • Early career moves and how he got into real estate • Borrowing £50,000 from his father-in-law to set up Reef Origin • Building Reef Estates with a bucket load of naïve optimism, entrepreneurial spirit, and creativity • Transitioning the business from Reef Estates to Reef Origin – why, how & future ambitions • Owning the whole value chain & the strategic reasoning behind vertically integrating the business • Circular economy, climate, digital infrastructure, automation, AI & ML • Perspective on the current economic and political landscape - Is the UK economy anti-growth? • Diversification, international expansion, and current opportunity set • Decarbonisation, industrial strategy, and the role of nuclear energy as an economic driver • Future-proofing the built environment and reimagining real estate • Reef's £100bn enterprise value ambition  Oh and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Piers would invest should he have £500m of capital at his disposal. Catch the full episode which is live on Youtube, Spotify and Apple NOW!   The People Property Place Podcast

This week we're taking you back for a re-cap on the Ian Marcus episode because it was that good. If you missed it the first time, here's your chance to catchup!   Ian Marcus OBE – Senior Adviser, Eastdil Secured Ian is a graduate of the University of Cambridge having studied Land Economy. Since then, he has held roles at Bank of America, UBS, NatWest, Deutsche and Credit Suisse. He currently sits on the board of 12 companies – everyone from Eastdill Secured, Elysian Residences, Town Centre Securities PLC, Work.life, Shurguard Self-Storage along with a number of others outside the real estate world. I sat down with Ian to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics: * How he got into real estate * People, People, People * Network & relationships * Risk aversion * Job selection criteria * Capital structures * Balancing 12 jobs! * Opportunities in the market * Favourite deals * Real estate heroes Oh, and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Ian would invest should he have £500m of equity at his disposal. Catch the full episode which will be live on Spotify, Apple and Youtube from Thursday this week. The People Property Place Podcast? is powered by Rockbourne. Who do you want to see on the Podcast? Link in the comments below #podcast #realestate #property #peoplepropertyplace

Jonathan Ivory is the Chief Investment Officer at Packaged Living where he leads on investment across all strategies. Jonathon is a member of The British Property Federation Build to Rent Sub-Committee, The Urban Land Institute Residential Council, Commercial Real Estate Finance Council Europe, Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government Build to Rent Committee and a director of The UK Apartment Association.   I sat down with Jonathan to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics: * Early career moves, muesing & reflections * The birth of the UK institutional PRS/BTR market * How Jonathan, alongside Ed and Mark, launched Packaged Living * Subsectors and product types - multifamily, single-family, and garden-style homes * Business model changes & need to be vertically integrated * The biggest challenges and 3 ideas for Rachel Reeves * Exclusive news… find out first about Packaged Living international expansion plans! Oh and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Jonathan would invest should he have £500m of capital at his disposal. Catch the full episode which is live on Youtube, Spotify and Apple NOW!   If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: Rod Lochart - CEO LendInvest - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6xB8F2GNUAky7GMIZRlXGn?si=pLDlzSlARTqfyC-fFgvzDw Ian Marcus - Senior Advisor Eastdill Secured - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4vHMFEIMe8xLmSJ0iA0LhH?si=e4828de1173f42da James Lock - Founder Rotation Real Estate - https://open.spotify.com/episode/0fnRxXZzdrNvWgQhm7enHC?si=dn0EezvjTm6phgzbMrMamQ Catherine Webster - CEO Thriving Investments - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6PRFdiSZh15qSugpDV3WXk?si=pJkA11ioQ3eH39aA683Sog Richard Croft - Founder Martley Capital - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3RBihWA63enwyaMLlumPE1?si=e1e4d13a35324e79 The People Property Place Podcast

Peter Clayton leads Property Finance at Leumi UK, bringing nearly 20 years of real estate finance experience. Since joining in 2021, he has worked across all property sectors with a range of borrowers, from entrepreneurs to institutional investors and has dramatically expanded the firm's lending book, team size and capability. Previously, Peter held senior roles at Lloyds Banking Group and Santander UK. A Durham University Geography graduate, he started his career in the wine industry before transitioning to the real estate space. I sat down with Peter to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics: Early career moves, reasons and learnings The role of clearing banks and their function and relevance in property finance. Understanding the cost of capitals impact on real estate finance and investment decisions. How Peter and the team have driven significant growth since joining Leumi Leumi's USP – In an increasingly noisy market, how Leumi stand out The use of debt brokers and how they add value in structuring deals. Underwriting assets & sponsors - assessing credibility, business plans, and long-term viability. Why overlooked sectors like retail can still present strong opportunities for contrarian investors Oh and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Peter would invest should he have £500m of capital at his disposal. Catch the full episode which will is live on Youtube, Spotify and Apple NOW! If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like Rod Lochart - CEO LendInvest Ian Marcus - Senior Advisor Eastdill Secured James Lock - Founder Rotation Real Estate Catherine Webster - CEO Thriving Investments Richard Croft - Founder Martley Capital The People Property Place Podcast