Sellar, the real estate investor, asset manager and developer which delivered the internationally recognised Shard Quarter and specialises in innovative mixed-use urban projects in London, announces that it has appointed Duncan Owen, the former Global Head of Real Estate at Schroders plc, and Kiran Patel, the Global Chief Investment Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Savills Investment Management, as non-executive advisors. The appointment of these two longstanding senior industry figures is effective immediately and reflects Sellar’s desire to strengthen its governance and continue to evolve its business as a long-term specialist developer and asset manager alongside existing and new partners, in order to accelerate the delivery of its 3 million sq ft development pipeline and grow its business.
Duncan Owen will take the role as Senior Advisor to the board. He was Global Head of Real Estate at Schroders plc from 2012 to 2020, a role which included being the CEO of Schroders Real Estate Investment Management Ltd and he currently remains a special advisor to Schroders REIM. In a career spanning over 30 years, Duncan has set investment strategies and managed real estate portfolios on both public and private markets through a number of economic cycles, for both balanced and value-add funds, and across all the main real estate sectors and in each region of the global markets.
Prior to Schroders, Duncan was CEO of Invista Real Estate Investment Management Holdings plc from 2006 to 2011 during which time he oversaw the creation of the business via a spin-out from HBOS’s Insight Investment Management, as well as its subsequent IPO. Between 1990 and 2000, Duncan held various roles at Jones Lang LaSalle and LaSalle Investment Management. Duncan is currently a non-executive director at Workspace Group plc (the flexible workspace REIT) as well as being on the Board of Governors for the Church Commissioners, an appointment of the Prime Minister’s office, where he is on the Property Investment (chair) Committee and also sits on the Social Impact Investment Committee.
Kiran Patel has 33 years’ experience in global real estate investment markets across multiple sectors and a diverse range of investment strategies. Kiran has been a senior figure at Savills IM for almost a decade, having joined as Global Chief Investment Officer in 2012 and, more latterly in 2019, added Deputy CEO to his responsibilities. Prior to Savills IM, Kiran spent 12 years in senior roles at AXA Real Estate (now AXA IM Alts) where he was Head of Business Development, Distribution, Research & Strategy and sat on both the Management Board and Executive Committee. Prior to that he was Associate Director at Legal and General, having started his career in the late 1980s with the UK surveying firm Hillier Parker May and Rowden. Kiran brings with him a multitude of real estate investment expertise, having worked across continents and several property functions. He brings with him an understanding of strong execution around risk management, governance, sustainability and performance delivery.
James Sellar, Chief Executive at Sellar, said: “We have strong ambitions for Sellar and are continually growing and adapting the business to ensure we remain at the forefront of our industry at a time of exponential change in society, technology and the imperative of limiting our impact on the environment. The appointments of Duncan and Kiran, both of whom are highly regarded senior figures in real estate investment management and have extensive track records around investment execution for investors, are a real statement of our intent. Their experience will be invaluable in helping us grow our business, and source capital partners that share our ambition to drive change as we focus on the triple bottom line, placing ESG at the heart of our process. I am very pleased to welcome them both to Sellar and look forward to working with them as we continue to pursue our goal of delivering innovative, design led and sustainable developments.”
Duncan Owen, said: “I am delighted to take this role. I have admired Sellar for a long time as a leading developer of complex large scale and iconic schemes. It is a privilege to help support their evolution as a developer and manager of world class and sustainable places.”
Kiran Patel, added: “This is a tremendous opportunity to be appointed as a non-executive advisor to Sellar. They have a fantastic team and an excellent track record of delivering regenerative, sustainable, mixed used properties that suit the growing needs of future occupiers and investors. I am delighted to be joining at this time, the depth and breadth of current opportunities is very exciting.”
