Fusion Group, one of the UK’s largest purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) developers and operators, has appointed Daniel Harris as Chief Investment Officer to support its continued growth.
Daniel joins from Cain International, the alternative asset manager specialising in real estate investment solutions, where he was a senior Managing Director and Head of European Investments.
Daniel led Cain’s real estate equity investments in a range of sectors including office, retail and logistics, as well as residential and alternative living sectors such as PBSA, which included the £500m forward funding joint venture between Cain International and Menora that included three Fusion assets in Nottingham, Liverpool and Manchester.
Before joining Cain in 2017, Daniel was a Managing Director in Tristan Capital Partners’ investment function for nearly six years. He has also held roles with leading pan-European firms including MGPA (a private equity real estate firm now part of BlackRock) and Heitman International Private Equity.
“Daniel is well-known as one of Europe’s leading living sector investment strategists, and his appointment comes as we see soaring demand among our partners to deploy capital in PBSA and other living sectors, in the UK and farther afield. Daniel’s arrival will boost our relationships with longstanding stakeholders, as well as enable us to access new pools of capital and bring Fusion’s focus on premium customer experience, best-in-class sustainability, and resident wellbeing to an even greater number of markets.”
– Nigel Henry, Chief Executive Officer, Fusion
As Fusion’s first Chief Investment Officer, Daniel will focus on the strategic growth of Fusion Group. Having established a secured 11,000-bedroom pipeline in the UK, with a £2.2bn gross development value (GDV), Daniel will expand the depth and breadth of Fusion’s capital partners in both debt and equity.
Daniel will also be responsible for expanding Fusion’s expertise in the living sector in terms of sectors, including co-living which the firm already includes in some of its PBSA-led, mixed-use schemes and markets, as Fusion looks to expand into key European geographies such as Spain and Germany.
“Europe’s living sector is rife with opportunities for a nimble, strategic business that understands how to create places people want to live. Joining Fusion at this period in its growth, and while the living markets are so strong, is an extraordinary opportunity to join a team I know to be among the very best in the business.”
– Daniel Harris, Chief Investment Officer, Fusion
In September Fusion Group secured planning approval for Longcross Court – a PBSA scheme in Cardiff. The development, located on Newport Road close to the city centre, will deliver 706 student beds across 488 units.
