Stanhope PLC managing director Stuart Grant has announced he is leaving the developer, after less than two years at the firm.

Stuart Grant

Stuart Grant

Grant is to launch his own property investment and management company named CoreLife Investors, he said.

The new company shall focus upon core-plus assets and life-science clusters in the UK, particularly in the cities of London, Cambridge and Oxford. It launches in September this year, Grant said.

Prior to joining Stanhope, he spent 18 years at Blackstone, including as senior managing director for the Asia Pacific region. At Stanhope he also sat as a member of the board and was in line to become chief executive office, according to some reports.

Announcing his departure and new venture, Grant said on Linkedin: ‘My good friend Graham Stanley will be chairman and strategic advisor. Graham oversaw the growth of Moorfield from a small listed company into one of the leading UK private equity real estate businesses and was a local JV partner to Blackstone.´

Based in London’s West End, Stanhope employs around 70 people. Grant played a lead role in the company’s acquisition of Chiswick Park building 7, from his former employer, last month.