This quarter Avignon Capital has bolstered its team with three new hires, appointing Paul Findlay as Investment Consultant, Jacco van Pelt as Asset Manager and Elmar Schilling as Asset Management Consultant.

Avignon is at an exciting growth period and 2019 will see further hires to bolster the team which will enhance our in-house capabilities and on the ground presence in our core markets.

Paul Findlay will work with the investment team to source real estate opportunities in Europe. He brings over 19 years’ experience in the property industry, recently having held senior management positions at private investor and asset management companies. Prior to this, he spent 15 years working as a Fund Manager and Investment Director at Aberdeen Standard Investments, where he managed UK institutional portfolios in excess of £1 billion and latterly was Fund Manager responsible for three separate Eurozone mandates valued at in excess in €500m.

Based in the Netherlands, Jacco van Pelt will focus on the asset management of the existing Dutch portfolio as well as sourcing new real estate investment opportunities across the Netherlands. Jacco has over 20 years’ experience in the real estate market and prior to joining Avignon Capital, he worked for Mayfield Asset and Property Management NL for 10 years as a Commercial Director and Senior Asset Manager. He was responsible for the management of a 400,000 sqm portfolio in the Netherlands. He brings extensive experience and the company will be able to capitalise from his on the ground presence and knowledge of the Dutch market.

Based in Germany, Elmar Schilling will work with Avignon’s asset management team on Avignon’s existing German portfolio and future acquisitions. He has over 30 years of experience, 15 of those years working for real estate investors across Germany. Prior to working in real estate, Elmar worked in management consulting, M&A and transaction services with subsidiaries of Deutsche Bank and HVB/Uni Credit.

Avignon will benefit from his on the ground experience and he will support Avignon in maximising the performance from the existing German portfolio for our clients. These new hires will be a fantastic asset for Avignon Capital as will strengthen our investment and asset management capabilities as the company grows its assets under management.