Cortland hires Cheyne Capital’s development director for European BTR drive

US build-to-rent giant Cortland has hired Owain Thomas as senior director of development for Europe to lead expansion in the UK and Ireland. Thomas joins this month from Cheyne Capital, where he spent five years as development director. His appointment follows the recently agreed joint venture with Harrison Street to build a £750m secured pipeline of BTR projects. Thomas will lead Cortland’s in-house development and design team and will be responsible for originating and delivering new BTR investments in the UK and Ireland, through ground-up development and forward funding deals. Corltland was setup in 2005. The Atlanta-based operator manages 50,000 homes, predominantly in the US. The business launched in the UK at the start of 2018 with the acquisition of Orion Land and Developments and a debut scheme in Watford. Last year it bought property manager LIV Group, expanding into third-party managed BTR. It aims to build a portfolio of 30,000 rental homes, of which 10,000 will be owned and operated. To send feedback, e-mail emma.rosser@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmmaARosser or @estatesgazette