People Property Place

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?

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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.

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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 🎙️is powered by Rockbourne - the team build elite teams for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors & Developers. If you're serious about adding game-changing talent in 2025 and are open to doing it differently - DM me on Linkedin. #peoplepropertyplace #podcast #rockbourne #realestate

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 🎙️is powered by Rockbourne - the team build elite teams for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors & Developers. If you're serious about adding game-changing talent in 2025 and are open to doing it differently - DM me on Linkedin. #peoplepropertyplace #podcast #rockbourne #realestate

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 🎙️ powered by Rockbourne - the team build elite teams for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors & Developers.

Subscribe for more episodes on real estate, development, and the leaders shaping the built environment.

#BuildToRent #RealEstateDevelopment #PropertyPodcast #UrbanRegeneration #CoLiving #HUBLondon #PeoplePropertyPlace

​​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 🎙️ powered by Rockbourne - the team build elite teams for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors & Developers. #realestate #privateequity #property

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 🎙️ powered by Rockbourne - the team build elite teams for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors & Developers.

#realestate #privateequity #property #assetmanager