Comings & Goings

Keir Waddell returns to Knight Frank

Keir Waddell has returned to Knight Frank as a partner to head up the firm’s residential investment advisory.

Waddell previously spent seven years at Knight Frank, becoming head of sales in King’s Cross and latterly the Battersea & Riverside offices.

He now re-joins the firm from OB Private, where he was head of development and investment.

Waddell commented: “I’m delighted to be returning to Knight Frank to lead the launch of the Investment Desk. Having spent over seven years with the firm in my earlier career, it’s a business I know well and one whose values, depth of expertise and client focus I strongly believe in.

“The creation of this service line reflects the increasing importance and sophistication of residential investment and reflects the breadth of opportunity across the UK.

“I’m looking forward to re-connecting with colleagues across the firm in establishing a market-leading advisory platform that supports our clients across the full residential investment cycle.”

Tim Hyatt, head of residential at Knight Frank, said: “I am delighted to welcome Keir back to the firm to lead this important new offering. He is a veteran in the world of property having held a number of roles across estate agency, new homes, private clients and investment – this depth of experience makes him perfectly suited for the role.”

Property Hub Invest appoints Sam Smith

Property Hub Invest has appointed Sam Smith as director of investment and partnerships.

In the role, Smith will focus on expanding Property Hub Invest’s network of developers and housebuilders, working with partners seeking a direct route to volume sales supported by its investor base.

Smith joins from Dandara Living, where he spent more than four years in senior leadership roles, most recently as director of residential management. During this time, Dandara expanded its Build to Rent portfolio to around 4,000 managed homes, with a further 7,500 homes in planning or under construction.

He has previously held senior positions at Hamptons and Get Living, bringing more than 20 years’ experience across residential development, operations and large-scale delivery.

Smith said: “The investor base behind the platform is unusually well-informed and aligned with long-term buy-to-let ownership, which makes bulk sales far more straightforward.”

Rob Bence, co-founder and CEO of Property Hub, added: “Sam’s appointment marks an exciting next phase for Property Hub Invest. We’ve created a genuine win-win: developers get fast access to volume sales through our huge database of qualified investors, while our clients get first access to the best off-plan and stock deals in the market. It’s a model that scales, and Sam has exactly the right experience and relationships to take us to the next level.”

The Good Economy appoints Danielle Hughes as Head of Sustainability for Housing

The Good Economy (TGE), the secretariat for Sustainability for Housing (SfH), which is the body that oversees the Sustainability Reporting Standard for Social Housing (SRS), has appointed Danielle Hughes as the head of sustainability for housing.

Hughes brings a wealth of experience across both the UK and US housing and sustainability sectors. As an experienced ESG reporting and communications professional, she most recently served as an associate at SfH, closely involved with the promotion of the SRS. She has also advised a number of UK housing associations with their corporate ESG reporting.

Prior to this, Hugheswas the ESG strategy and communications manager at The Housing Finance Corporation (THFC), where she was later promoted to sustainability and treasury manager.

Piers Williamson, chair of SfH, said: “Danielle’s appointment represents a significant step for Sustainability for Housing. With someone dedicated full-time to promoting the Sustainability Reporting Standard, we can enhance our engagement with adopters and strengthen our role as a voice for ESG for the housing sector. Danielle’s experience and passion for sustainability will be invaluable as we move into this next phase of growth and impact.”

Hughes added: “The SRS is a vital tool for transparency and accountability, and I look forward to working closely with our adopters and partners to ensure it remains practical, relevant and impactful as the sector grows.”