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What in your view is the biggest challenge facing the business and the real estate sector? A The biggest challenge facing all businesses at the moment is economic uncertainty and the real estate sector is no exception. The economy has been described as a tightly wound spring that is ready to bounce back post vaccine, but there are significant challenges too. The slower vaccine rollout across Europe will have an effect across a range of sectors, as will how we return to workplaces and what the future of work, leisure, hospitality and retail look like. Having good networks, insights and market knowledge will be key for the real estate sector and those who can access capital, be adaptive and have the confidence to seize opportunities will prosper.
What do you think are Picton’s core strengths? A As part of my due diligence before joining the team I reached out to a range of stakeholders, and they all told me what Picton’s core strengths are - and it’s the team and the culture. With a terrific track record to be proud of, Picton has made a series of very sound decisions, controlled its costs and pursued the right opportunities. For the business to be in the position it is in after the last 12 months is remarkable, a view shared by stakeholders.
What do you dowhen you are not at work? A I try to really enjoy life and that includes work. I am very fortunate to have worked in so many countries and I still love to travel. Friendships and family are also very important to me. I am a big consumer of broad culture, live music, theatre and art and I read widely. I like to keep fit and used to be quite a competitive runner, but now walk a lot, do some high intensity workouts and try to make time for daily yoga practice and meditation. I realised a while back that overall wellness means more than just physical fitness and I believe that approach has served me well across a range of high-pressure roles.
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What are the key priorities for the business next year? A In the short-term, planning and preparing for an end of lockdown recovery and working closely with all stakeholders, as companies start to reoccupy their buildings, but also to assess longer-term opportunities for growth. While good progress has been made against a number of sustainability priorities over the course of this year, a key focus will also be developing our net zero carbon pathway.
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