This comes as the real estate investment, development and asset management firm expands its business in Ireland with the opening of a new office in Merrion Square, Dublin.

John – a chartered surveyor with over 25 years of development and asset management experience – joins from WK Nowlan Real Estate Advisors, where he was a director and shareholder.

He had previously served at Harcourt Developments, Treasury Holdings Limited, Pillar Property, BAA Lynton and Thames Water Property.

•   Round Hill Capital appoints chief executive for student housing arm
•   Former Contour Capital MD joins Beaufort Capital
•   Is Northern Ireland the next hotspot for property developers?

John said: “I’m excited about joining the Round Hill Capital team and helping to bring [its] extensive international experience to bear in the Irish student accommodation and residential sectors. 

“We have ambitious plans and over €1bn [approximately £900m] of capital to deploy in Ireland and setting up a locally staffed office is a sign of our intention to invest for the long term.”

Round Hill Capital is planning to deploy capital into the Irish build-to-rent and purpose-built student accommodation sectors.

Michael Bickford, founder and CEO of Round Hill Capital, said that along with many European countries, the Irish student and residential housing markets suffered from structural supply-demand imbalances.  

“Round Hill has a proven 15-year track record of investing into such markets, where we identify opportunities that will deliver sustainable housing, while creating long-term jobs. 

“We look forward to building a substantial student and residential platform in Ireland in a responsible manner. 

“I am delighted to welcome John to the Round Hill team. 

“I am confident that his deep industry knowledge, expertise, networks and ability to deliver will prove invaluable as we continue to grow Round Hill’s business in Ireland and wider Europe.”