Stephen Barter to head KPMG’s real estate advisory unit

Accountancy and consultancy group KPMG has appointed Stephen Barter as chairman of its real estate advisory practice. Barter was previously UK CEO of Qatari Diar, part of the Qatar Investment Authority, and has held senior roles at property group Grosvenor and Richard Ellis (now CBRE).

Based in London, he will focus on expanding KPMG’s international client base and growing the real estate advisory business; providing corporate finance and strategic advice to leading investors, fund managers, developers and occupiers.

KPMG said Barter’s appointment will enhance its ability to understand differing investor needs as the group expands across different markets and transactions become more complex and international. The firm is already a major adviser to a number of sovereign funds, large pension funds and other major capital providers. Its real estate practice employs some 3,000 professionals in over 70 countries.