Octopus Investments names new CEO

Octopus Investments has named Benjamin Davis as its new chief executive, replacing Ruth Handcock in the role. Edward Clough will succeed Davis (pictured) as managing director of Octopus Real Estate. Clough has been with Octopus Real Estate for more than five years, holding positions including head of corporate development and head of care homes. Davis has been chief executive of Octopus Real Estate for four years. He joined the group as an investment manager in 2010, and since then has held several roles across the business, including fund manager for the Octopus Apollo Venture Capital Trust and chief executive for Octopus Healthcare. As chief executive of the real estate division, Davis grew the team’s funds under management from £2bn to £3.8bn and launched several new funds, including an affordable housing fund. He also spearheaded the Greener Homes Alliance partnership with Homes England to enable small-to-medium-sized housebuilders to build more high-quality, energy-efficient homes in England.  In his new role, Davis will oversee all parts of the Octopus Investments business, including retail and institutional fundraising and the investment teams, which includes Octopus Ventures, Octopus Real Estate, sustainable infrastructure and the listed smaller companies team. He will report to Simon Rogerson, founder and chief executive of Octopus Group. Handcock will be moving to a new role within the wider group and will remain on Octopus Investments’ board. She will continue to report to Rogerson. Octopus Investments has also set out plans to invest £50bn by 2030 in “people, ideas and industries that will change the world”. To help it raise significant new capital to meet this target, it will be exploring new growth opportunities in areas adjacent to its existing investment focus.  Chief investment officer Jonathan Digges will lead these plans. Rogerson said: “Benjamin is a perfect example of the leaders we look for at Octopus. He is passionate about our mission and has already delivered several significant initiatives that have contributed to it. “Beyond the leadership changes, our ambition to invest £50bn in line with our mission within the next seven years is one that everyone at Octopus is excited and motivated by, and no one more so than Jonathan. To reach such a bold target will require new, disruptive ideas, something Octopus has always thrived on.”  To send feedback, e-mail pui-guan.man@eg.co.uk or tweet @PuiGuanM or @EGPropertyNews Image: Octopus Investments