JTRE London has appointed former Knight Frank partner James Keegan as head of acquisitions.
Keegan has 17 years of experience, most recently as a co-founder and director of sustainable development company AutumnHill.
Prior to this he was a partner at Knight Frank for 15 years overseeing the central London development team, working on major acquisitions and disposals including the sale of Battersea Power Station, Southbank Place (Canary Wharf Group); Mount Pleasant (Royal Mail); ITV Centre South Bank (ITV) and Sampson & Ludgate (The Carlyle Group).
JTRE said the appointment is a real coup, showing its "determination to target the next acquisition into its portfolio". The Central European mixed-use developer has built a circa £1 billion development portfolio in five years in London and believes now is the time, with "firm backing from the JTRE head office in Slovakia", to prepare for the next cycle in London by buying mixed-use schemes.
The appointment follows the recent hire of Seamus Porter as operations director.
JTRE London recently completed the acquisition of the 220 Blackfriars Road site in Southwark, set to become a £400 million mixed-use development comprising 219,000 square feet of offices, 64 almshouses with gardens, a charity hub and community hall, developed in partnership with Southwark Charities.
Nigel Fleming, joint managing director for JTRE London, said in a statement: “James’s experience and credibility in the market speaks for itself, we are delighted to add such a well-regarded individual to the team. His experience and expertise will be invaluable as we commence our next chapter."
James Keegan, Head of Acquisitions for JTRE London, said: "It is hard not to be inspired by the incredible growth story of JTRE London. I am particularly impressed by the emphasis on delivering exceptional architecturally designed buildings and place making, which ensures projects deliver real quality and make a positive impact on London."
JTRE London completed in the summer of 2023 its flagship £450 million Triptych Bankside mixed-use scheme on the Southbank and Appleby Blue, an affordable almshouse for elderly Southwark residents operated by United St Saviour's Charity.