Duncan Garrood, CEO of Empiric Student Property, a FTSE 250 company with a portfolio valued at over £1 billion, delivering premium accommodation to students across the UK.

Duncan has a proven track record in transforming companies and driving customer-centric success. He’s led teams across various industries, including retail, pubs, hospitality, food and entertainment, always with a focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences and fostering motivated, high-performing teams.

I sat down with Duncan to discuss a broad range of subjects which covered some of the following topics:

* Career Foundations – The early experiences that shaped his leadership style.

* Scaling Global Brands – His insights from taking brands international.

* Turning Around Struggling Companies – The strategies behind reviving underperforming businesses.

* Proving Doubters Wrong – His approach to overcoming challenges and silencing critics.

* Navigating Complex Legislation – How he adapts strategies to meet government regulations.

* Operational Excellence – Driving efficiencies in student accommodation cluster management.

* What It Means to Be Truly Customer-Centric – Redefining customer-centricity in real estate.

* Investing in Innovative Assets – Comparing cookie-cutter accommodations with boutique, character-driven designs.

* UK Student Accommodation – Understanding supply vs. demand and market segmentation.

Oh and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Duncan 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.

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This podcast was recorded just before ESP held a successful 10% equity raise, to fuel the growth that Duncan refers to in the interview.

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