People Property Place

Ryan Prince established Realstar's UK operation in 2002 and since this time the company has acquired and developed over £3B of assets, including a portfolio of 73 Holiday Inn hotels comprising of 13,000 rooms, over 6,000 rental residential and student accommodation assets and a national portfolio of primary healthcare centres. Most recently the company has created UNCLE - a new kind of rental housing brand. Rated #1 on Trust Pilot in the UK, UNCLE''s mission is to offer 'renting as it should be'.  From a standing start in 2017, UNCLE now has 12 locations open and under construction in London, Leeds and Manchester and through its joint venture with QuadReal, is seeking to at least double in size of the next 3-5 years. I sat down with Ryan to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics: Early career moves & reason for moving to the UK Ditching venture and how he got into the real estate game His first real estate deal, and  how he got the UK business off the ground Scaling Realstar to a £3bn 5000 unit UK business Ryan's 'strategyless' approach to business Views on the UK housing targets & government Importance of brand in a commoditised world and the creation of UNCLE Approach to raising, and retaining capital partners Advice for those wanting to set up your own business Current market trends Future growth plans Oh and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Ryan would invest should he have £500m of capital at his disposal. Catch the full episode which will be live on Youtube, Spotify and Apple NOW! The People Property Place Podcast 🎙️ is powered by Rockbourne - the team recruit Leadership & Future Leadership hires for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors & Developers. #realestate #podcast #peoplepropertyplace #property

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 💷 Got thoughts or questions about this episode? Drop them in the comments - I'd love to hear from you. And if you're enjoying what I'm putting out, don't forget to 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. 🔊 LIKE  ➡  SHARE  ➡  SUBSCRIBE 👉 http://peoplepropertyplace.com/

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 👌   Got any thoughts or questions about this episode? Drop them in the comments — I'd love to hear from you. And if you're enjoying what I'm putting out, don't forget to hit subscribe and turn on the notification bell 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.   🔊 LIKE ➡ SHARE ➡ SUBSCRIBE 👉 http://peoplepropertyplace.com/

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 👌 Got any thoughts or questions about this podcast? Drop 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 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. 🔊 LIKE ➡ SHARE ➡ SUBSCRIBE 👉 http://peoplepropertyplace.com/

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 👌 Got any thoughts or questions about this podcast? Drop 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 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. 🔊 LIKE ➡ SHARE ➡ SUBSCRIBE 👉 http://peoplepropertyplace.com/

Building a Pan-European Real Estate Powerhouse | Christophe Garbe (GARBE) Subscribe To My Channel For More Videos: 👉 http://peoplepropertyplace.com/ Hey Everyone, Welcome Back! What does it take to scale a family-run development business into a €15 billion pan-European real estate platform? This week, I sat down with Christophe Garbe, Managing Partner of GARBE, to unpack how he grew the company from its Hamburg roots into one of Europe's leading logistics and real estate players — now operating across 13 countries with 21 offices. Christophe shares his journey from joining the family business to taking over the UK arm just before the Global Financial Crisis, rationalising the platform, and spearheading GARBE's "2.0" strategy — doubling down on logistics, expanding into residential and science & tech, and building out a European development and fund management engine. We explore how GARBE has navigated shifting market cycles, why decentralisation has been key to their growth, and how Christophe is positioning the business for the next chapter of European real estate. ⸻ Key Topics Covered In This Episode: ✅ Scaling Across Europe – From Hamburg beginnings to a €15 billion platform spanning 13 countries ✅ Crisis Leadership – Taking over the UK business on the eve of the GFC ✅ Strategic Evolution – Logistics, residential, science & tech, data centres and beyond ✅ Decentralised Model – Empowering local teams to drive accountability and growth ✅ Lifelong Learning – How studying at Harvard sharpened strategic thinking despite dyslexia ✅ Market Outlook – Navigating uncertainty and spotting opportunities across European 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? Christophe's answer did not disappoint 👌 Got any thoughts or questions about this podcast? Drop 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 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. 🔊 LIKE ➡ SHARE ➡ SUBSCRIBE 👉 http://peoplepropertyplace.com/

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 👌 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 an episode. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne – Recruiting Leadership & Future Leadership hires for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors & Developers.   🔊 LIKE ➡ SHARE ➡ SUBSCRIBE 👉 http://peoplepropertyplace.com/

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. 🎧 Listen Here: https://linktr.ee/peoplepropertyplace The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne – Recruiting Leadership & Future Leadership hires for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors & Developers. You can also connect with me on social media, I'd love to hear from you there too. Thanks again for hanging out with me! 🔊 LIKE ➡️ SHARE ➡️ SUBSCRIBE https://linktr.ee/peoplepropertyplace

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. 🎧 Listen On: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6oCDnwWSTP685l6sn8F0a6 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/people-property-place/id1652694140 The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne – Recruiting Leadership & Future Leadership hires for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors & Developers. You can also connect with me on social media, I'd love to hear from you there too. Thanks again for hanging out with me! Subscribe To My Channel For More Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLeY7xnoJ08uYlGb-Y0j96A 🔊 LIKE ➡ SHARE ➡ SUBSCRIBE ► Rockbourne Website: www.rockbourne.com ► PPP Podcast LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/people-property-place-podcast/about/?viewAsMember=true ► Matthew Watts LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-watts-51575a57/ ► Business Enquiries: mwatts@rockbourne.com

Leo Shapland, Chief Executive of the King's Cross Estate, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast 🎙️ this week. He reflects on his formative experiences at Brookfield Multiplex, to building international platforms at Tishman Speyer, returning to London with Aviva, then leading at Workspace before taking on his current role overseeing one of Europe's most successful regeneration projects. Leo reflects on career pivots between investment, development, and leadership, the lessons learned on his journey. He shares candid thoughts on today's market dynamics, and what it really takes to run a complex, mixed-use estate that attracts 20 million visitors a year. If you're interested in global real estate careers, platform-building, large-scale regeneration, or the future of London's office and mixed-use market, this episode is for you.   Key Topics Covered in This Episode: •         How watching the regeneration of Shad Thames sparked his interest in real estate. •         Leaving Cushman after just two days to join Multiplex, taking on pan-European acquisitions in his early 20s. •         What a decade at Tishman Speyer taught him about capital raising, transactions, and development. •         Lessons from moving abroad: delivering large office and residential projects in San Francisco and opening Tishman's Seattle office. •         Why he shifted from pure investment to broaden out into development, operations, and leadership. •         Returning to London: Aviva Investors, governance, ESG, and making countercyclical bets during Covid. •         The Workspace experience: working closely with entrepreneurial SME customers and running a vertically integrated platform. •         Why Kings Cross is, in his view, one of Europe's best regeneration schemes - and what the future looks like •         His take on the market – where demand is strongest and what is the hardest to make work right now.   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 #placemaking #regeneration #realestateinvestment #kingscross #London

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 🎙️ this week. We discuss his journey into real estate, the evolution of research in the sector, and key insights into the UK and European logistics markets. Kevin shares his data-driven view of market trends, rental growth dynamics, build-to-suit versus existing stock, and the increasing importance of supply-side fundamentals when making investment decisions. If you're active in the industrial or logistics real estate market across the UK & Europe, and you're interested in data-driven decision-making, or the forces shaping demand and supply in the sector, this episode is for you. Key Topics Covered in This Episode: ·       Kevin's unconventional path into real estate, and his pivotal early career moves ·       The evolution of research from a back-office function to a front-line, strategic, in demand tool ·       What the UK logistics data is really showing, and why build-to-suit deals are under pressure ·       Rising vacancy in a market with strong demand, and what that disconnect tells us ·       Speculative development trends, and how they're shaping short-term supply risks ·       Why second-hand stock is growing fast, and how much of it is actually usable ·       The real drivers of industrial demand, and why retail still dominates ·       Nearshoring, reshoring, and how they are reshaping long-term European strategy ·       Rental growth that's defying historic vacancy relationships, and why ·       The evolving role of AI in warehousing and supply chain decision-making ·       Why smart investors are prioritising supply-side data over demand forecasts ·       Kevin's take on the biggest risk facing the sector today, and the data point he's watching most closely 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 #logistics #data #industrial

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 🎙️ 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.

Philip Gadsden, Managing Partner at Orchard Street Investment Management, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast 🎙️ this week. We cover his 40+ year career in institutional real estate - from Jones Lang Wootton and Gatehouse, to building Invista, and now leading Orchard Street's shift into impact investing. We get into his views on separate accounts, discretionary capital, asset-level execution, decarbonisation, and the evolution of investor expectations. If you're interested in UK fund management and real estate's shift toward ESG and impact, this one's for you. Key Topics Covered in This Episode: Why he chose real estate as a career, and the early moves that shaped his career Lessons learnt from launching his own business Launching one of the UK's first impact-led real estate funds in partnership with Brunel and Access The market's shift toward responsible investing, ESG metrics, and decarbonisation targets Evolution of the UK Fund Management space Why shorter leases and active management are now even more essential to driving returns and mitigate risk The opportunity set in industrial, retail parks, and residential Why OSIM are focused on future proofing second-hand assets given that 80% of 2050's buildings already exist 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 🎙️ is powered by Rockbourne: Giving real estate investors a difficult choice of 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, lets talk!   

Marcus Meijer, Founder and CEO of MARK, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast 🎙️ this week. We talk through his journey from third-generation developer to building one of Europe's leading independent investment managers. We get into how Marcus thinks about platform creation, market timing, team building, and where he sees the next wave of opportunity. If you're interested in real estate private equity, specialist strategies, or scaling across Europe, this one's for you.   Key Topics Covered in This Episode: ·    Growing up around real estate and what he learned from early exposure to market cycles ·    Lessons from Hines and Goldman Sachs that shaped how he builds teams and makes decisions ·    The origins of MARK and how they raised their first fund ·    Pivoting away from generalist value-add funds and toward sector-specific platforms ·    How they built VR Outlets into a €1bn+ platform with APG and Value Retail ·    Lessons learnt from Crossbay 1 and the validation from the sale to Prologis, and plans for Crossbay 2 ·    How winning third-party mandates leverage the existing teams' skills, and generate fees while giving MARK an investment edge ·    His take on the market, the challenges, opportunities and future of real estate ·    What success looks like to Marcus and how he thinks about legacy and ownership   And finally... With £500m to invest, which People, what Property, and which Place would Marcus 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 #privateequity

Jon Lurie, Founder of Realty Corporation, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast 🎙️ this week. We talk through his journey from accidental landlord to managing billions at Goldman Sachs and Blackstone and why he decided to launch his own real estate investment firm. We get into how Jon navigates cycles, build conviction-led investment themes, and why real estate is no longer guaranteed a spot in capital allocators portfolios. If you're interested in private equity real estate, platform building, or contrarian value creation, this one's for you.   Key Topics Covered in This Episode: ·   How inheriting a small office building and studying game theory shaped his thinking early on ·   Badge collecting – the reasons for the moves, and lessons learnt for working at some of the worlds leading institutions ·   How he survived the GFC at Goldman and what kept him in the room ·   Reflections from building real estate platforms at scale across Europe at Blackstone ·   How balancing asset-level detail and macro conviction has enabled outperformance ·   Why he left Blackstone to launch Realty ·   Why he believes in conviction-led investment strategies rooted in deep research ·   What ties UK student housing, German distress, and data centres together ·   Why real estate has lost its automatic seat in institutional portfolios and what it must do to win it back   And finally... With £500m to invest, which People, what Property, and which Place would Jon 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.  

Gawain Smart, CEO of International Campus Group, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast 🎙️ this week. We talk through his journey from a legal career in Canada and Wall Street to running one of Europe's largest living sector platforms. We get into what it takes to scale and professionalise a private equity-backed real estate business, how to lead through change, and what's coming next for European student and co-living assets. If you're interested in operational real estate, business building, or managing complex international platforms, this one's for you.   Key Topics Covered in This Episode: • Breaking free from early career inertia • Moving from execution to leadership and why being a generalist matters • What it really means to institutionalise a founder-led business • Building the right team and why people issues make or break a CEO • Growing ICG's AUM to a mammoth €1.9bn across Europe • How to prioritise when everything feels urgent • Co-living vs student housing and why ICG focuses on both • The value of local teams in pan-European investing • Structuring pan-European teams and deal flow and why patience is critical • Why European PBSA is still in its infancy and where the real supply/demand gap lies • Capital flows shifting into Europe and what's attracting investors right now • How AI will reshape talent, workflows, and decision-making   And finally... With £500m to invest, which People, what Property, and which Place would Gawain 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.

Dean Harrison, Founder of Harleyford Capital, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast 🎙️ this week. We explore his journey from a motocross-obsessed upbringing to building Harleyford Capital, a best-in-class institutional operating platform in one of the toughest real estate markets of the last decade. Dean breaks down the discipline, grit, and mindset needed to build something from scratch. If you're thinking about launching your own platform, raising capital, or understanding how Dean and his partners got the platform off the ground, this one's worth your time.   Key Topics Covered In This Episode: How a year driving mid-box developer Jeff Penman of Tungsten Properties shaped his early ambitions Deans early career moves, and skills acquired to break into real estate private equity His 10-year career at InfraRed Capital Partners - its unique culture, approach and how it gave him outsized responsibility Honest reflections on the brutal challenges of launching the business Building a platform that institutional investors want to work with, and the Harleyford USP Getting up at 4:30am, cutting out alcohol, and the personal productivity shifts needed to go through the gears, building the business Going from standing start to putting £250m+ to work in 18 months What is New Economy Real Estate and what is the investment angle? What he looks for in institutional partners - and the three traits every hire at Harleyford must have And finally... With £500m to invest – which People, what Property, and which Place would Dean 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.