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Executive Search
Access senior real estate leaders through GKR International's executive search and C-suite recruitment practice.
Securing leadership that drives performance:
In real estate, senior hires shape more than teams; they shape strategy, performance, and growth. A strong Head of Residential, Investment Director, or Managing Director can transform revenue, culture, and operational efficiency.
GKR has recruited exclusively in real estate since 2010. Across the team, we carry over 80 years of combined sector experience, including time spent working within property businesses before moving into recruitment. We work as an extension of the client's team throughout every search: regular contact, agreed milestones, defined outcomes, and a personal stake in getting it right.
Executive Search is the right approach when:
- The role is strategic or business-critical
- Talent pools are competitive or niche
- Confidentiality matters for internal or market reasons
- Cultural alignment is as important as technical ability
- A mis-hire would have a material impact on revenue, growth, or reputation
Whether you’re scaling, entering a new market, or preparing for acquisition, these hires need a targeted approach.
The process:
We start by understanding your business objectives, growth plans, team structure, and market position. The aim is to define the right leadership profile, not just the role title. If we think the brief needs adjusting before we go to market, we will advise accordingly.
Using our property network, we identify active and passive candidates across your sector and adjacent markets. We headhunt directly, disclosing only what is necessary at each stage to protect your position.
Every candidate is assessed for commercial impact, sector knowledge, leadership capability, and cultural fit before appearing in front of the client. Shortlists are selective and ready for informed decision-making, each with a written assessment alongside the CV.
We manage the offer process, including any negotiation and counter-offer handling, and stay in contact with the placed candidate through their notice period and first months in post.
Roles we place:
- Managing Directors & Regional Directors
- Heads of Residential / Lettings
- Investment & Development Directors
- Finance Directors / CFOs
- Property Management Heads
- Board & Advisory roles
Our clients span the full breadth of the sector: independent agencies, multi-branch operators, property developers, institutional investors, fund managers, managing agents, and professional services businesses within real estate.
Recent Appointments:
The brief: A European real estate investment trust required a Finance Director with experience across multi-jurisdictional fund structures and institutional investor reporting. The appointment needed to be made without any public advertising of the vacancy.
Outcome: GKR ran a confidential retained search, approaching candidates directly across the fund management and real estate investment sector. The role was filled by a candidate identified through the search rather than through open market activity.
The brief: An international investment management and advisory firm needed a Managing Director to lead its property management operation. The brief called for senior leadership experience, a track record in growing a managed portfolio, and the credibility to represent the function at board level.
Outcome: GKR worked closely with the client's leadership team throughout, with agreed milestones and regular progress updates at each stage. The appointed candidate came from within the managed property sector and has been in post since placement.
The brief: A PCL agency required a Director to lead a specific London sales office, with the gravitas to develop client relationships at the top end of the market and the commercial instinct to drive performance.
Outcome: The search was conducted with full confidentiality. GKR presented a shortlist of candidates with direct PCL experience at the appropriate level, and the role was placed from within that shortlist.
The brief: A luxury buying agency expanding its lettings offer needed a Lettings Director with experience at the prime and super-prime end of the market. The calibre of the appointment needed to reflect the standing of the business.
Outcome: GKR sourced candidates through direct approach within the prime London lettings market. The appointment was made on retained terms, with the placed candidate coming from a comparable role at a business of similar standing.
Investment and Asset Team – Exclusive & Retained
- GKR were mandated to build out a real estate direct investments team for a well know private equity and credit.
- This this team had to have a very specific background and experience and we build out a story and understand in depth the business plan the client was looking to deploy so we could relay that clearly to market.
- The search required extensive market mapping and in-depth use of our network and market knowledge.
- The process was extensive however the client is very happy with the team and we are working on further additions
Real Estate Private Equity Fund
Finance Director - Exclusive Search
- After successfully placing a senior analyst with this client we were soon tasked with finding a Finance Director for this new venture
- This business had successfully raised institutional capital and required the right person to build out a finance function, for which GKR advised what a best in class background would be.
- This was an exclusive search which we were able to turn around a shortlist quickly clients request and secure someone in the role within six weeks of starting the mandate.
Real Estate Development Lender & Joint Venture Investor
CEO & Head of Property - Retained
- GKR was approached by a European Royal Family Office to assist them in building a property and investment fund.
- We were directly retained and instructed to secure the Head of and No.2.
- We agreed to identify a shortlist of 7 potential MD’s/CEO’s and 5 Head’s of Property. The shortlist was completed and presented within 21 days.
- Since then we have placed an additional 4 people across this company building the entire property and portfolio management function exclusively
European Family Office
Portfolio Director - Exclusive Search
- GKR was instructed by the Head of Residential, JLL UK&I to secure Senior Portfolio Director on behalf of several of their BTR clients.
- Having conducted a market-mapping exercise with the client, they identified a shortlist of individuals for GKR to approach on their behalf.
- We successfully presented a shortlist of seven selected individuals and organised four first and second-stage interviews.
- The successful candidate was required to conduct a 6-month notice period; we supported JLL by offering our first-class aftercare services to ensure a smooth exit and onboarding.
International Real Estate Fund
Chief Financial Officer – Exclusive Search
- GKR were approached by a well know real estate private equity house to find a Chief Financial Officer for a flexible workspace platform they were building out.
- The client had very specific requirements for which meant we targeted competitors and similar operators to head-hunt for this search.
- After honing in on someone quickly we supported the client with a lengthy interview process to a successful hire.
Private Equity Backed Flexible Workspace Operator
Chief Financial Officer – Exclusive Search
- GKR was tasked with an exclusive search for and CFO for a fast growing multi-faceted property business.
- This included and extensive reach out of network across developers, advisories, family offices and funds.
- We set out defined the process with client and secured the successful candidate through market intel.
Property Developer & Consultancy
Director of Mission Critical
- GKR worked exclusively with a long standing, international client to secure a new sector leader for their growing Mission Critical business, based in London covering EMEA
- The scope of the headhunt proved extremely specialised, combining a niche talent pool with demanding role requirements
- The Exec Search Team mapped the Mission Critical sector globally at leadership level, creating a shortlist with encompassed UK & International talent
- Through a four stage interview process, GKR were successful in relocating a leadership candidate from a direct competitor. From brief to securing the candidate, the timescale was 12 weeks.
International Design Firm
Workplace Strategy Director
- GKR worked exclusively with a Director level candidate within the Workplace Strategy market, a complex and small niche within the wider workplace & real estate market.
- Through this representation, we assisted in mapping the market for said individual and created a shortlist of existing GKR clients as well as new “wish list” firms who could utilise the individual’s experience across the sector.
- With various confidential conversations taking place, we identified three suitable opportunities and proceeded to partner with the candidate through the interview process with each firm.
- The Director was successfully offered a role within 10 weeks of initially engaging GKR.
Architecture & Interior Design Consultancy
Our clients
Why choose GKR:
All searches are managed with full discretion, protecting your strategy and your market position throughout the process.
We are property specialists with over 80 years of combined sector experience across the team, including direct experience working within the industry before moving into recruitment. In practice this means:
- We understand the revenue drivers and operational pressures your candidates have lived with
- We speak the same language as clients and candidates at every level of the sector
- We advise on market benchmarks, compensation structure, and cultural fit based on genuine knowledge
- We bring credibility to every approach we make on your behalf
Reputation is everything to us. Our loyal team ensures consistent service for every client. Every new search marks the beginning of a long-term partnership.
Common Questions
GKR has operated exclusively in real estate since 2010. The team carries over 80 years of combined sector experience, including consultants who have worked within property businesses themselves. We have placed Finance Directors, Managing Directors, Investment Directors, and Lettings and Property Management leadership across the full breadth of the sector.
Every search begins with a proper briefing: a conversation with the relevant decision-makers about the context of the vacancy, the business at that point in its development, and what good looks like at twelve months. We agree a clear brief before going to market, and we will tell you if we think anything in it needs adjusting first.
We work in one sector only. That focus is what gives us access to candidates who are not on the open market and relationships at the senior level that take years to build. Because of our team's structure and longevity, clients work with the same consultant throughout the process. Account managers remain invested in supporting our clients' goals as an extension of their business.
We agree the brief, map the market, approach candidates directly, assess each one against the profile, present a selective shortlist with written assessments, manage the interview process on both sides, and handle the offer and transition. You have a clear picture of progress at every stage, not just at the end.
Most searches complete within eight to twelve weeks from brief to accepted offer. Some mandates at a senior level or in niche markets take longer. We agree a timeline at the start and flag any changes as the process develops.
Get in contact:
We specialise in five key sectors
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Commercial
The commercial team provide permanent and contract services to leading property and construction consultancies in the Private & Public Sectors as well as developers, banks and funds.
Read more.
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Residential
With experienced consultants and ex-property professionals in one team, they are market experts working with High Street Agents, Corporate giants, Developers and Investment Agencies.
Read more.
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Property Management
With first-hand experience in the field, we represent estate agencies, managing agents, private investment portfolios, commercial mixed-use developments, facilities services, student accommodation providers, and investment funds, supplying expert property management professionals tailored to their specific needs.
Read more.
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Built Environment
The team have worked hard to develop long standing relationships with practices ranging in size, niche and specialism throughout the design and build industry delivering both permanent and professional interim/contract solutions.
Read more.
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Professional Services
We recruit professionals in finance, legal, compliance, advisory, administration, and sustainability for estate agencies, managing agents, private portfolios, commercial developments, student housing, and investment funds.
Read more.
Meet the executive search team:
Greg Hollis
Greg Hollis is Group CEO of Recruitment Entrepreneur, the investment platform backing GKR International. He brings more than 30 years’ experience across recruitment, investment and business growth, having worked with businesses at various stages of development. Greg supports GKR’s leadership team across strategy, performance and long-term growth, drawing on extensive experience of building and scaling recruitment businesses.
Grant Kaveney
Grant Kaveney founded GKR in 2010 following a successful career building recruitment businesses in South Africa. He established GKR with the ambition of creating a specialist recruitment business focused on the property and real estate sectors. Grant continues to provide strategic leadership across the business, with a focus on growth, client relationships and the continued development of GKR’s international executive search offering.
Rose Lock
Rose joined GKR in 2018, bringing more than 20 years’ experience within the property sector across the UK and Spain. She has developed a strong network across property management and has played a key role in growing GKR’s presence within the sector. Rose combines extensive market knowledge with a highly focused and relationship-led approach to recruitment. Her expertise extends across the real estate management sector, including temporary and permanent recruitment, executive search and international outsourcing.
Lee Riley
Lee joined GKR following almost seven years’ experience within the property sector, initially supporting the growth of the residential recruitment division. He has since developed extensive experience across property recruitment and senior-level appointments, working closely with clients and candidates throughout the market. Lee focuses on building long-term relationships and delivering RPO solutions, executive search, and international outsourced recruitment solutions aligned with both client requirements and real estate market conditions.
Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh is Group Managing Director of Recruitment Entrepreneur, the investment platform backing GKR International. He brings more than 20 years’ experience across the recruitment industry, spanning global corporates and high-growth businesses. Ranjit works closely with leadership teams across the Recruitment Entrepreneur portfolio, providing strategic and operational support across business growth, performance, structure and long-term planning.
Peter Wallis
Peter joined GKR in 2019 to build and expand the professional services recruitment division across the commercial and residential real estate sectors. He focuses on leadership and executive roles across marketing, finance, legal, technology, and design. His deep network connects top-tier market experts with a wide variety of business consultancies, property developers, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and agencies.
Michael Woda
Michael joined GKR in 2014 as one of the company’s first key hires, bringing eight years’ experience within residential property and leading London agencies. He has played a central role in developing GKR’s residential recruitment offering and launched the company’s Edinburgh office in 2024. Michael now leads residential recruitment across the North West, working closely with clients and candidates as a trusted recruitment partner, including fast-growth strategies and executive search appointments across the region.
Hamish Wright
Hamish Wright is Chief Financial Officer of Recruitment Entrepreneur, the investment platform backing GKR International. He brings more than a decade of international finance experience across recruitment, technology and private equity-backed businesses. Hamish supports the wider Recruitment Entrepreneur portfolio across financial strategy, reporting and performance, providing financial oversight as the businesses continue to grow.
