Gatehouse Bank adds British Land’s CIO and Great Portland Estates’ NED to its Board

Gatehouse Bank plc, a niche, Shariah-compliant investment Bank specialising in Real Estate and Wealth Management announced the double appointment of Mr Steve Smith and Mr Jos Short, to its Board of Directors. Steve Smith joins as an independent non-executive director and will work with the rest of the Board to take a lead role on the Bank’s Strategy and Investment Committee. Jos Short also joins as an independent non-executive director and will chair the Bank’s Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee

Outgoing British Land Chief Investment Officer, Steve Smith, brings more than 30 years experience of real estate investment and financing. Smith is also the Chairman of Starwood European Real Estate Finance, a listed real estate debt fund. As the former CIO, he was responsible for British Land’s investment strategy and direct property acquisition programme. Prior to British Land, he was Global Head of Asset Management at AXA Real Estate Investment Managers Ltd where he was responsible for a portfolio in excess of €40 billion.

Jos Short is the founder of Internos, a pan-European property investment management fund with €2billion of assets under management. With also 30 years industry experience, he is NED of Great Portland Estates plc and Independent Board member of Grosvenor UK Shopping Centre Fund, a property investment company managed by the Grosvenor Estate. The combined experience and expertise of Short and Smith, with their longstanding careers in European investment banking and real estate investment management, demonstrate Gatehouse’s ambitions to become a leading Real Estate and Wealth Management Shariah-compliant institution.

Mr Fahed Boodai, Chairman of Gatehouse Bank plc commented; “Both Steve and Jos bring tremendous depth and breadth to the Board of the Bank. Their knowledge, insight and experience in the Real Estate sectors are unrivalled and their appointment to the Board is timed perfectly as the Bank embarks on an exciting growth plan and strategy. On behalf of the Board of Gatehouse Bank, I welcome Steve and Jos on our journey.”