Morley Fund Management, a European property fund managers, has appointed Neil Gardiner as its first dedicated residential property fund manager. Gardiner joined on 1 August and reports to Phil Clark, head of specialist funds.
He will be fund manager for Morley’s three residential property portfolios:
The Beach Student Accommodation Fund was launched in June 2005 in conjunction with Derwent Living. This institutional fund invests in high quality student accommodation in university cities in the UK.
The Tri Investment Residential Fund was launched in May 2005 by Tri Investments. The Fund will invest in off-plan residential developments on a pan-European basis but with an initial focus on emerging EU countries.
The Capital Residential Fund is an institutional fund which invests in residential properties in 13 of the most prestigious postcodes in London.
He joins from Schroder Investment Management where he was head of residential investment, managing the ResPUT residential fund with assets in excess of £120m. Prior to Schroders Neil was a director within the Residential Development and Investment Department at Chesterton.
Phil Clark, head of specialist funds at Morley, said: “We are delighted to have secured someone of Neil’s caliber and experience to join us. He will help develop and expand our residential and quasi-residential product offering within our specialist funds range, continuing our drive to offer niche, diversifying property funds to the institutional marketplace. Neil is one of very few people in the industry with this type of experience in the residential marketplace and I know that his appointment will greatly benefit Morley.”
Gardiner said: “It’s an exciting time to join Morley with the sheer volume of opportunities that are opening up across Europe and within specialist funds arena.”The residential sector offers a diverse range of opportunities and I’m looking forward to working with the team here to manage their growing product range.”