I created this company as a consultancy and management vehicle undertaking acquisition, management, development and surveying work for private clients including Swiss and Malaysian developer/investors and acquiring property for a Cotswolds based brewery.

Responsibilities: -

• Head of business unit and leader of all property matters for this Sunday Times Top Track 250 group;
• Property strategy setting, changing group strategy through influential board proposals;
• Senior and structured debt raising;
• Leader of all group development projects totalling in excess of £100 million GDV;
• Part of the corporate finance team;
• Contributor to business units including zero carbon strategy and PFI bids.

Achievements: -

• Successfully created and managed a captive equity fund using £33 million of equity;
• Sourced and acquired 8 development projects to a board agreed risk profile;
• Created a construction management company to directly procure development;
• 12 executive directorships held in a variety of special purpose vehicles and businesses;
• Won 9 planning consents including a 47 unit residential scheme in Bow; 7,000 m2 mixed use retail, office, leisure & residential scheme in Reading; and a 5,500m2 industrial scheme in Cambridgeshire;
• Proactively led all aspects of an industrial development realising a £2.2 million profit (35%);
• Took control of the group’s property debt requirement, obtaining funding offers from Coutts & Co, Lloyds TSB, Investec, Allied Irish, Handlesbanken, Nationwide etc. totalling over £40 million; and
• Negotiated the surrender of a lease for £1 million enabling a £200 million management buyout.

• Briefed and reported directly to all clients (including Marie Curie Cancer Care, Buccleuch Estates and Commercial Estates Group Ltd) and supervised six staff;
• Successfully led all client-side financial matters, personally managing a mixed portfolio with a rent and service charge roll of £6,000,000 p.a. from 300 tenancies on a day-to-day basis; maintained an exceptional rent collection record while maintaining good tenant relations;
• Productively introduced, implemented and managed asset enhancement initiatives;
• Undertook profitable Red Book valuations (HSBC Panel);
• Successfully undertook lease renewals & rent reviews including third party submissions and directly instructing Counsel;
• Achieved lettings, investment sales/acquisitions, dilapidations, refurbishment and consultancy;
• Grew into the management and promotion of the firm, winning new clients and successfully implementing IT initiatives;
• Successfully supervised an APC candidate; and
• Achieved promotion from assistant to associate partner and declined an offer of equity partnership.

Restructured the marketing plan to achieve improved sales from lower promotional expenditure.

Assisted Mr May in a variety of surveying disciplines, primarily West End Rent Review.

Successfully founded this contract glazing firm employing 19 people.