German fund manager DWS has appointed Martin Zdravkov as lead portfolio manager, responsible for overseeing the firm’s European expansion into living sectors in the region.
Based in London, he will report to Jessica Hardman, head of Portfolio Management for Europe at DWS.
Zdravkov joins DWS with over 15 years of equity and debt investment management experience across the UK and Europe, acting in a principal capacity acquiring, disposing, lending, and borrowing against ‘Living’ assets. His vast experience in this sector covers Residential, Student Accommodation, Hospitality, and Senior Living, with strong expertise in development funding and structuring.
In his previous role, he was the head of residential and Impact Investments at LaSalle Investment Management where he was responsible for portfolio management and investments in the residential sector, working on U.K. and European mandates. Prior to this, he was the portfolio manager for a residential fund at Aviva Investors and pan-European long income strategies.
Jessica Hardman, head of Portfolio Management, Europe at DWS said: 'To gain exposure to this sector, investors need an in depth understanding of local residential markets and with Martin’s appointment we can further deliver this to our clients as a dominant investor in the European Living sector.'
Martin Zdravkov added: 'With strong fundamentals, European residential has grown in popularity as institutionalisation of this sector continues. DWS has a strong track record in this space and I am thrilled to join the European real estate team to help deliver the next stage of growth as a dedicated Living sector portfolio manager.'
DWS’s current beds portfolio spans the full spectrum including a mix of student, Build to Rent, healthcare and hotels in well-connected micro locations across Europe, with an established local presence in key European target markets.
