Hugh Macdonald-Brown – Co-Founder & CEO of Roebuck joins me on the People Property Place Podcast 🎙️ this week for our re-released conversation.

Hugh, or Macca, or 'Legend' as he goes by in our office, is full of energy and shares the realities of leaving a corporate job and setting out on the entrepreneurial path. Plenty of wins, but it hasn't been all smooth sailing...

Hands down one of my favourite episodes to date, and the stats don't lie either - you loved it first time around too!

Recorded in June 23, if you missed it then, be sure to check it out on your run, office commute or asset tour.

Roebuck is an an institutional grade pan-European real estate logistics investor who identify and create investment strategies across the risk spectrum, including core, core + and value add. Their current portfolio spans 7 countries, with more than 100 assets and a value in excess of €2.6bn.

Hugh is a graduate of Cass Business School (now Bayes) and started his career at BNP Paribas – he has since transacted more than €3.25bn within the logistics sector and has key relationships with the key investors, occupiers, developers and lenders in all of Roebucks target markets.

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

How he got into real estate

Why he set up Roebuck

The reality of starting a business

Institutionalising the business

IOS – Industrial Open Storage

Growth plans

And so much more...

Oh and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Hugh would invest should he have £500m of equity at his disposal.

Out NOW wherever you get your podcasts.

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 #property #privateequity #peoplepropertyplace

We think that this interview with Catherine was so good that we wanted to run it again to make sure you didn't miss it the first tome round! 

Formerly known as PfP Capital, Thriving Investments is a leading fund manager with a social conscience. The business already manages three living strategies totalling £700m and so far it has acquired and delivered 3,500 private rented sector and for-sale homes and has six regeneration projects under way, as it targets 20,000 homes over the next decade.

Prior to joining Thriving Investments Catherine was an Executive Director – Strategy & Investment at Quintain and has previously held roles at Hudson Advisors and Lehman Brothers among others.

Catherine has an MBA from INSEAD and is a graduate of the University of Reading.

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

* How she got into real estate

* Working across surveying, banking & private equity

* Not being afraid to take a backward / sideways career move

* Skill stacking

* Turning capital wins into community gains

* Advice for those early in their career

* Building 20,000 homes in the next decade

Oh, and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place would Catherine invest should she have £500m of capital at her disposal. Catch the full episode which will be live on Spotify, Apple and Youtube NOW! 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

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6oCDnwWSTP685l6sn8F0a6

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/people-property-place/id1652694140

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLugt7vb7tPvbp_im8m7PoAq4U0mG3TeYR

Podcast produced and edited by Matt Cook at https://mattcookproducer.com 

Samantha Kempe is the Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer at IMMO. She has c.20 years of real estate experience across private equity and corporate finance at Blackstone, PwC and Cushman & Wakefield.

Her real estate acumen focuses on capital raising, acquisitions, portfolio management and the execution of both value-add asset management and workout strategies of direct real estate, and real estate loans for institutional investors.

Sam is a Chartered Surveyor, MRICS in Real Estate Finance and Investment, and holds an MSc in Real Estate Investment (Distinction) and an MBA from London Business School.

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

• Her unexpected journey into the real estate industry

• Key early career moves and pivotal experiences that shaped her path

• Why she set up IMMO, having undertaken an MBA

• The IMMO business model & competitive edge

• Building proprietary tech to power each part of the real estate investment management value chain

• Navigating the challenges of raising both VC capital and “real estate” capital

• Attracting top talent: challenges faced, lessons learned, and strategies for success

• New-build residential vs. retrofit

• European vs US market & size of the opportunity

• Identifying the current opportunity landscape in real estate

Oh and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Sam would invest should she have £500m of capital at her disposal. Catch the full episode which will be live on Youtube, Spotify and Apple NOW! The People Property Place Podcast 🎙️ powered by Rockbourne - the team recruit Leadership & Future Leadership hires for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors & Developers. Who do you want to see on the Podcast? #peoplepropertyplace #podcast #rockbourne #realestate

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

Iyngaran joined Clear Sky in late 2023 and serves as Head of Europe. He has 15 years of experience in both equity and structured finance across traditional and operational real estate.

Prior to joining Clear Sky Capital, Iyngaran deployed over $3B worth of capital across Europe, APAC and US at prior firm, Macquarie Principal Finance.

Previous to that, he was an Associate at Greenhill & Co and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young whilst working in their Restructuring division.

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

·   Early career journey and the pivotal skills gained along the way

·   How he got into real estate sector

·   The nuances and discipline of balance sheet investing

·   Insights into principal investing vs investment management

·   The story behind Clear Sky Capital and how he joined

·   Opportunity set in the UK & European self-storage market

·   Strategic advantages of a vertically integrated business model

·   Why backing sectors with strong tailwinds often trumps contrarian investing

·   Why twice a year, he works as a receptionist in store.

·   Key skills top tier investors need to learn

·   Current market trends and his perspective on today’s real estate landscape

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

Who do you want to see on the Podcast?

Guy co-founded HSPG in 2015 to provide high-quality accommodation for vulnerable people. As CEO, he leads fundraising and acquisitions, overseeing over £500m in investments in UK affordable housing.

With a background as a Sales Analyst at RBS and launching Europe’s first digital property crowdfunding platform, Guy is a passionate entrepreneur focused on ventures with social impact.

He holds a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Nottingham and has studied Real Estate Finance at MIT and completed an Executive MBA at Harvard Business School.

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

• Breaking into real estate and scaling HSPG into an institutional-grade investment platform.
• Hiring, retaining, and developing top talent.
• Tackling affordable housing and homelessness through initiatives like Homeless Affordable Rent and Project Westminster, delivering 2,000 units in London.
• Partnering with institutional capital to create inflation-linked, long-term cashflows while delivering social impact.
• Lessons from scaling, "failing forward," and navigating challenges.
• Personal growth through music, yoga, and breathwork.

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

Who do you want to see on the Podcast?

Max Bassadone is a Gibraltarian, but is of Italian and Austrian heritage. Prior to co-founding Tokoro, he obtained his investment experience at Brockton Everlast, Brockton Capital, Nuveen (formerly named TH Real Estate and TIAA) and Colliers International. He is a qualified Chartered Surveyor.

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

• How he got into real estate and his early career moves.
• Grit, determination, and focus needed to achieve goals.
• The story behind naming his business Tokoro and its meaning.
• Launching Tokoro in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown.
• Tokoro’s USP, approach to raising capital and generating alpha in real estate.
• Tokoro’s investment thesis: thematic style and fund structures.
• Social impact initiatives: becoming a B Corp and supporting 1% for the Planet.
• Attracting, empowering, and retaining talent through purpose-driven leadership.
• Current trends in capital markets and their impact on real estate allocation.
• Max’s vision for the future of Tokoro.

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

Who do you want to see on the Podcast?

Richard Pearce is the Founder of TCN, a leader in transforming buildings and communities into thriving spaces.

Starting with a £185k loan, he built a business with 30 employees, £8m turnover, and a £120m portfolio. Over 20 years, he has led regeneration projects across the UK, including ventures with the BBC in White City and Bath Council to drive economic growth and job creation.

A pioneer in the Flexible Workspace market, Richard has created a standout brand in the sector. He also founded The Curious Network, a platform connecting SMEs with each other and higher education to foster collaboration and innovation.

Key takeaways from my chat with Richard:

• How he got into real estate & his early career moves
• How he built the foundations & skills to launch his own business – from management, valuation, leasing, investment, asset management and financial literacy
• How he launched TCN with a £185k loan, following a deal celebration meal
• Creating distinctive destinations with an emphasis on provocative branding & community
• How he took on a struggling construction company with 32 employees and successfully restructuring and repositioning it.
• Founding The Curious Network, a digital platform connecting SMEs and higher education, offering instant access to thousands of coworkers and opportunities.

Oh and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Richard would invest should she 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 recruits Leadership and future Leadership hires for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors, and developers. Who do you want to see on the Podcast?

This week on the People Property Place Podcast 🎙️we’re taking a slightly different approach…

 We’re heading to Paradise – a brand new development by Bywater Properties & Sumitomo Forestry in SE11, Lambeth.

This best-in-class mass timber office project spans 63,000 sq. ft. of sustainable workspace, is designed to lock away the equivalent of 60 years of tenant operating emissions, and is set to be completed in Q1 2025.

Since joining forces with Sumitomo Forestry, Bywater Properties has been on an incredible growth journey, acquiring several office redevelopment projects across the UK and launching a brand new Living strategy.

At Rockbourne, we’ve had the privilege of calling Bywater our clients, partners, and friends and have loved playing a small part in helping build their exceptional team.

A few weeks ago, I packed up the podcast gear and sat down on-site at Paradise with Theodore Michell, Co-Founder and COO, and Pavlos Clifton, Head of Development.

We delved into some of the key questions surrounding timber construction, sustainable building practices, embodied carbon, and how these trends are shaping investment, development, and leasing in the real estate sector.

The full conversation drops on Thursday this week, on Youtube, Spotify & Apple. I hope you find our conversation insightful and inspiring! Do let me know your feedback by shooting me a DM.

The People Property Place Podcast 🎙️ is powered by Rockbourne. The team recruits Leadership hires for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors, and developers.

#peoplepropertyplace #podcast #rockbourne #realestate

Bella joined Greystar in 2014 as one of the first members of the new European business, where she was engaged with the platform's growth across the region.

Today, she is responsible for asset execution across student and multifamily properties and leads the company’s Asset Management and Operations teams in Europe.

Prior to Greystar, she worked in the residential real estate sector covering serviced apartments, PRS and BTR at Native where she was responsible for portfolio growth, investor relations and asset management. 

Bella started her career at The UNITE Group, having graduated from Oxford University where she studied Geography.

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

* How she got into real estate: Understanding her motivation and path into the property sector.

* Early career moves: We explore the key transitions in her career 

* Joining a scale-up in the UK: Being one of the first 10 employees in the UK & reflecting on her role in helping establish Greystar’s UK business during its early days.

* Managing diverse asset types: BTR, PBSA, and Co-Living—across various regulatory and geographic landscapes requires balancing Greystar’s global operating model with the specific demands and nuances of each local market.

* Key considerations when onboarding a portfolio: Insights into the critical factors and strategies involved in bringing new portfolios into the business.

* What excites her most: Discuss the trends or opportunities in real estate that she’s most passionate about.

* Sabbatical experience: What she gained from her recent time away and how it shaped her outlook.

Oh and one last question - who are the People, what Property, and in which Place Bella would invest should she have £500m of capital at her 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 recruits Leadership and future Leadership hires for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors, and developers.

Who do you want to see on the Podcast?