Living for students
DIRECTORS
Domatia is run by five directors with seasoned experience in the
PBSA market, particularly in the UK and now in Italy.
WILLIAM FFORDE
Business Development &
Chairman
william.fforde@domatiaitalia.com
-
Oxford graduate, FCA (KPMG)
-
Worked in all sectors of UK real estate, leading to pioneer entrepreneur in UK PBSA
-
Founder director of Varsity Funding (incl. the UK’s first HE PFI; exited with the UK’s first AAA-rated multi-university bond issue)
-
Founder director of UniLodge, the UK’s first privately-owned, direct-let, nationwide PBSA chain, sold to Unite in 2001
-
20+ years’ experience in Continental Europe (languages included)
MARK SWALLOW
Acquisitions &
Property Director
mark.swallow@domatiaitalia.com
-
University graduate & Chartered Surveyor
-
The equity partner who established and ran the Student Team at Knight Frank
-
Strong relationships: site finders, developers, universities, owners and key agents
-
Numerous positions in PBSA for 30 years, (incl. lead agent for UniLodge)
JOHN WOOD
Development &
Asset Management
-
Retailer from behind the counter to creation of spending spaces in UK/EU.
-
Development Director taking The Mall Fund to £3bn+, & other retail projects.
-
Founder, The Other Retail Group.
-
Development Director, The Gates Shopping Centre, Durham, including 200+ PBSA rooms.
ALASTAIR BELL
Finance &
Asset Management
alastair.bell@domatiaitalia.com
-
University graduate & Chartered Surveyor
-
Property fund manager & administrator, Imry, JER
-
Extensive retail & hotel experience in UK & EU
-
Founder, The Other Retail Group
KEITH WHITE
Operations
-
University graduate, MBA.
-
A respected expert with 25 years’ experience in PBSA management & design.
-
Formerly a senior executive at Nationwide’s residential investment company.
-
CRM founder, 1997: the UK’s largest independent PBSA facilities manager, with approaching 30,000 rooms; now operating in the emerging Europe market.
-
Sold CRM to Corestate, 2018.
-
Chairman of CRM following sale to Corestate.
Detailed CVs of the directors are available to appropriate parties, on request.
WILLIAM
FFORDE
Business Development &
Chairman
william.fforde@domatiaitalia.com
-
Oxford graduate, FCA (KPMG)
-
Worked in all sectors of UK real estate, leading to pioneer entrepreneur in UK PBSA
-
Founder director of Varsity Funding (incl. the UK’s first HE PFI; exited with the UK’s first AAA-rated multi-university bond issue)
-
Founder director of UniLodge, the UK’s first privately-owned, direct-let, nationwide PBSA chain, sold to Unite in 2001
-
20+ years’ experience in Continental Europe (languages included)
WILLIAM
FFORDE
Business Development &
Chairman
-
Oxford graduate, FCA (KPMG)
-
Worked in all sectors of UK real estate, leading to pioneer entrepreneur in UK PBSA
-
Founder director of Varsity Funding (incl. the UK’s first HE PFI; exited with the UK’s first AAA-rated multi-university bond issue)
-
Founder director of UniLodge, the UK’s first privately-owned, direct-let, nationwide PBSA chain, sold to Unite in 2001
-
20+ years’ experience in Continental Europe (languages included)
JOHN
WOOD
Development &
Asset Management
-
Retailer from behind the counter to creation of spending spaces in UK/EU.
-
Development Director taking The Mall Fund to £3bn+, & other retail projects.
-
Founder, The Other Retail Group.
-
Development Director, The Gates Shopping Centre, Durham, including 200+ PBSA rooms.
ALASTAIR
BELL
Finance &
Asset Management
alastair.bell@domatiaitalia.com
-
University graduate & Chartered Surveyor
-
Property fund manager & administrator, Imry, JER
-
Extensive retail & hotel experience in UK & EU
-
Founder, The Other Retail Group
KEITH
WHITE
Operations
-
University graduate, MBA.
-
A respected expert with 25 years’ experience in PBSA management & design.
-
Formerly a senior executive at Nationwide’s residential investment company.
-
CRM founder, 1997: the UK’s largest independent PBSA facilities manager, with approaching 30,000 rooms; now operating in the emerging Europe market.
-
Sold CRM to Corestate, 2018.
-
Chairman of CRM following sale to Corestate.
JOHN
WOOD
Development &
Asset Management
-
Retailer from behind the counter to creation of spending spaces in UK/EU.
-
Development Director taking The Mall Fund to £3bn+, & other retail projects.
-
Founder, The Other Retail Group.
-
Development Director, The Gates Shopping Centre, Durham, including 200+ PBSA rooms.
JOHN
WOOD
Development &
Asset Management
-
Retailer from behind the counter to creation of spending spaces in UK/EU.
-
Development Director taking The Mall Fund to £3bn+, & other retail projects.
-
Founder, The Other Retail Group.
-
Development Director, The Gates Shopping Centre, Durham, including 200+ PBSA rooms.
JOHN
WOOD
Development &
Asset Management
-
Retailer from behind the counter to creation of spending spaces in UK/EU.
-
Development Director taking The Mall Fund to £3bn+, & other retail projects.
-
Founder, The Other Retail Group.
-
Development Director, The Gates Shopping Centre, Durham, including 200+ PBSA rooms.
JOHN
WOOD
Development &
Asset Management
-
Retailer from behind the counter to creation of spending spaces in UK/EU.
-
Development Director taking The Mall Fund to £3bn+, & other retail projects.
-
Founder, The Other Retail Group.
-
Development Director, The Gates Shopping Centre, Durham, including 200+ PBSA rooms.
WILLIAM FFORDE
Business Development &
Chairman
william.fforde@domatiaitalia.com
-
Oxford graduate, FCA (KPMG)
-
Worked in all sectors of UK real estate, leading to pioneer entrepreneur in UK PBSA
-
Founder director of Varsity Funding (incl. the UK’s first HE PFI; exited with the UK’s first AAA-rated multi-university bond issue)
-
Founder director of UniLodge, the UK’s first privately-owned, direct-let, nationwide PBSA chain, sold to Unite in 2001
-
20+ years’ experience in Continental Europe (languages included)
MARK SWALLOW
Acquisitions &
Property Director
mark.swallow@domatiaitalia.com
-
University graduate & Chartered Surveyor
-
The equity partner who established and ran the Student Team at Knight Frank
-
Strong relationships: site finders, developers, universities, owners and key agents
-
Numerous positions in PBSA for 30 years, (incl. lead agent for UniLodge)
JOHN WOOD
Development &
Asset Management
-
Retailer from behind the counter to creation of spending spaces in UK/EU.
-
Development Director taking The Mall Fund to £3bn+, & other retail projects.
-
Founder, The Other Retail Group.
-
Development Director, The Gates Shopping Centre, Durham, including 200+ PBSA rooms.
ALASTAIR BELL
Finance &
Asset Management
alastair.bell@domatiaitalia.com
-
University graduate & Chartered Surveyor
-
Property fund manager & administrator, Imry, JER
-
Extensive retail & hotel experience in UK & EU
-
Founder, The Other Retail Group
KEITH WHITE
Operations
-
University graduate, MBA.
-
A respected expert with 25 years’ experience in PBSA management & design.
-
Formerly a senior executive at Nationwide’s residential investment company.
-
CRM founder, 1997: the UK’s largest independent PBSA facilities manager, with approaching 30,000 rooms; now operating in the emerging Europe market.
-
Sold CRM to Corestate, 2018.
-
Chairman of CRM following sale to Corestate.
TEAM & CONSULTANTS IN ITALY
Domatia has a strong network of local professional teams including
real estate agents, lawyers, architects, project managers, etc. to deliver projects,
utilising local contractors & suppliers for construction and refurbishment.
ALESSANDRA ROSSI
University Relations &
Marketing
alessandra.rossi@domatiaitalia.com
-
University graduate in Languages
-
Florentine native
-
Fluent in English
-
Experience studying abroad
-
Over 20 years of experience with international education
-
Over 10 years of experience coordinating cultural activities and weekend excursions within the international education field
CHRISTY SMOLENSKI
Acquisitions
christy.smolenski@domatiaitalia.com
-
University graduate in Italian language and Fine Arts
-
Californian native living in Florence for over 13 years
-
10 years of experience in international education, comprehensive of housing coordination
-
Experience with Italian real estate and student housing agencies
SPONSORS & AFFILIATES
Domatia works with Sponsor Groups of investors, typically with substantial assets under management including a focus on private equity and real estate investment. They deploy their capital across the traditional and alternative segments of the real estate market.
