European Senior Management Team

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  Martyn McCarthy

  Chief Executive Officer - Europe

  Martyn has been with Valad since early 2003 and has held roles in Australia and Europe. In his current role as Chief Executive Officer in Europe, Martyn has full executive responsibility for leading the Group's European Operation. For the 15 years prior to joining Valad, Martyn has been involved in various facets of real estate in Australia, the USA and Europe, including six years at GE Real Estate where his role included structured finance, joint ventures and portfolio acquisitions in Australia and New Zealand. Martyn has a Bachelor of Business in Land Economics from the University of Western Sydney.

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  Christian Bearman

  Chief Operating Officer - Europe

  Christian joined Valad in January 2010 as COO for Europe with responsibility for managing the Group’s €4.7 billion operations across its 20 European offices in 12 countries.   His previous experience encompasses investment banking, real estate, private equity, international business and insurance.  Christian joined Valad from Lloyds Banking Group where he was Director of Transactions of their Real Estate Joint Ventures business, identifying and executing the Group’s strategy for its portfolio of 170 property joint ventures across the UK and Europe.  Prior to this, he was a Director of property fund manager Pacific Investments plc, a Director of leading title insurance provider London and European,  a senior manager in the Bank of Ireland’s Group Corporate Development  office, and worked in the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs International, focusing on corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions.  Christian completed an BA with Honours in History and Business at Duke University, North Carolina, and holds an MBA from Trinity College, University of Dublin.

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  David Kirkby

  Group Head of Funds Management

  David was appointed Group Head of Funds Management in 2009.  David brings with him considerable experience having worked in the real estate industry for over 25 years, the most recent 12 of which were in funds management with Lend Lease.  David has been based in the UK for over two and a half years, prior to which he has worked both in Asia and Australia.  David’s experience includes opportunistic and core funds as well as major development projects across several sectors and geographies.  David has an Associate Diploma in Valuation and Land Economics

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  Michael Bruhn

  Head of Nordic Region

  Michael joined the Group in 2001 and is responsible for managing and growing Valad’s business in the Nordic Region, based in Copenhagen. He was formerly Senior Partner at DTZ for three years after merging his previous company with the agency business and has more than 20 years experience in the Nordic property markets as a developer, agent, special projects adviser and asset manager. Michael is a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Surveyor and holds a Masters Degree in Economics from the Copenhagen Business School.

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  Mark McLaughlin

  Head of Benelux

  Mark is responsible for managing and growing the Group’s asset management and development business in the Benelux Region, based in Amsterdam, which includes Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. He joined the Group in 2001, bringing his extensive experience in property and construction gained through roles across Europe, Singapore and his native Republic of Ireland. Mark has an honours degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Dundee.

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  Gilles Vaissié

  Head of France

  Gilles founded the local business in 1999 and is a specialist in the light industrial sector with expertise in asset management and the sourcing of deals. He was previously on the Management Board and General Manager of Auguste Thouard (now Atis Real) in France before setting up GViO, now Valad France. With 30 years experience in French commercial markets, Gilles has a long established reputation in the French investment market and Valad France is the leading provider of Parc d’Activites in France.  He is a Graduate of Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Paris and has a Bachelor of Economics.

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  Klaus Kortebein

  Head of Germany

  Klaus heads the German business with the overall responsibility for the management and a strong focus on acquisitions. He joined Valad in 2007 having previously worked in senior fund and asset management roles at leading German institutions MEAG (Munich Re) and DEKA Immobilien.  More recently, Klaus spearheaded Morgan Stanley's open-ended global fund initiative in Germany.  Klaus studied in Berlin, Cambridge and Los Angeles and holds an MBA.

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  Matthew Bann

  Head of Central and Eastern Europe

  Matthew joined the Group in August 2006 and is responsible for managing and growing the Group’s Central and Eastern European business, currently covering Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Poland and surrounding territories.  Matthew has 18 years of property experience including Aerium Ltd where he was the Director of Asset Management for a Pan European Portfolio worth in excess of €2billion. Matthew has a Master’s Degree in Real Estate Investment from Cass Business School at City University London.

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  James Sullivan

  Managing Director, PILinvests

  James Sullivan joined PILinvests as director of the launch team in December 2007, launching institutional property funds and private investor funds.  James was promoted to Managing Director of PILinvests in November 2008 and is now responsible for managing both launch and operator functions. James has worked in private practice as a lawyer and in industry as corporate counsel for two multinational corporations where he gained international experience in commercial agreements, joint ventures and corporate transactions.  James qualified as a solicitor in 1998 and holds a degree in French from Exeter University.  PILinvests is the trading name of Partnership Incorporations Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, UK.