Grainger bolsters investment team with two appointments

Residential landlord Grainger announced two key appointments within its investment team on Monday, with Eliza Pattinson promoted to director of investments - asset management, and Steven Clark appointed as director of investments - acquisitions.

The FTSE 250 company said Pattinson, already a senior leader within the business, first joined Grainger in 2000 as sales and acquisitions manager within the investment team.

Since then, she had progressed through a number of roles, specialising in acquisitions and asset management; most recently as director of investments, overseeing Grainger's “significant portfolio” of build-to-rent assets.

In her new role, Pattinson would lead asset management for Grainger's operational portfolio of 9,727 rental homes.

Clark, meanwhile, was an experienced residential investment specialist, having previously spent more than 10 years with Grainger, namely as head of the ‘GRIP’ portfolio - a £696m private rented sector portfolio - and then as commercial finance director, a role he held until April 2020.

The board said he was “instrumental” in establishing and developing a number of investment processes within the business.

Clark was re-joining Grainger from Lendlease Europe, where his current role was as residential investment director.

In his new role, Steven Clark would lead the investment team at Grainger and support the business as it entered the next stage of its growth plans.

With a £1.9bn pipeline of 8,851 homes, Grainger said it was set to double the size of its portfolio over the next five years, and had a “clearly-defined” targeted investment strategy that would drive further growth.

“We are delighted with these two key appointments,” said chief executive officer Helen Gordon.

“Both Eliza and Steven have an excellent knowledge and understanding of our business and they have the skills, experience and expertise to lead our investment strategy through this exciting next stage of growth, building our industry leading portfolio and national pipeline.”

Eliza Pattinson was being promoted to her new role with immediate effect, and Steven Clark would join Grainger in mid-February.

At 0836 GMT, shares in Grainger were down 0.13% at 312.2p.