• Robert Gilchrist and Vanessa Sloan have joined the European value add real estate platform as non-executive directors
• Robert has over 40 years of real estate experience, with a focus on creating and managing private equity real estate funds, whilst Vanessa has nearly two decades of experience delivering institutional client portfolio management, strategy and investment solutions
• Both will support Evonite’s team as the business works towards its next stage

Evonite, the London-based and independently owned European value-add real estate partnership, has announced the appointment of established real estate professionals Robert Gilchrist and Vanessa Sloan as non-executive directors. Robert will become Non-Executive Chairman of the partnership.

Robert, who has enjoyed a long career at the forefront of pan-European real estate investing, was instrumental in creating one of the first limited partnerships to enable global investors to access European real estate whilst at MIM Property Services (now Invesco), and subsequently PRICOA. From there Robert became a founder partner in 2003, and subsequently CEO of Rockspring where he worked closely with Evonite’s leadership team to build a company with over 120 employees and €8 billion assets under management. He led the business until its sale to Patrizia in 2018 and since then has remained connected to the real estate industry through non-executive director and advisory committee roles.

Meanwhile, Vanessa has nearly 20 years’ experience in the real estate industry as both an investor and advisor. During her time in the industry, Vanessa has held senior positions at international investors including Stepstone Group, Townsend Group, National Pension Service for South Korea and Deutsche Finance Group. In these roles Vanessa has delivered institutional client portfolio management, strategy and investment solutions, including pan-Europe and sustainability program leadership, with an emphasis on building trusted long-term relationships across investor and manager ecosystems.

Both bring a wide range of industry knowledge and will offer considerable leadership and financial expertise to the Evonite team

Launched in May 2024, Evonite has been set up to challenge the status quo with a vision to build on a philosophy of delivering consistent performance for its investors across fund vintages. Evonite will pursue a thematic investment strategy led by deep macro research, occupational market dynamics, risk analysis and asset management opportunities to allow it to best support its fund investors.

Robert Gilchrist, Non-Executive Chairman for Evonite, said:
“In recent years the pan European real estate industry has become increasingly dominated by larger managers and with this has come a shift in focus towards AUM growth. Against this background, I am convinced that the lessons I have learned over the years should greatly assist the Evonite team as they focus on delivering a more personal and aligned service to their client base. This opportunity has come at an interesting time in the market cycle, and I am excited to be taking on this new role and to once again be working with the very people I have mentored over the years.”

Vanessa Sloan, Non-Executive Director for Evonite, added:
“I am excited to take on this opportunity to work with a new partnership founded by such experienced leadership with well-established collective track records. The Evonite team offers a timely perspective in the current environment to reassess the long-term value proposition for Europe’s real estate sector and its alignment with investors. I look forward to contributing my strategic experience, spanning investor, consultant, and manager viewpoints, as Evonite navigates an evolving capital markets landscape.”

Paul Hampton, CEO of Evonite commented:
“The appointment of Vanessa and Robert as non-executives completes the formation of our leadership team and further strengthens Evonite as we begin 2025. It allows us to offer a robust governance structure to investors with two individuals that share our ethos. Speaking for the six of us at Evonite, we are thrilled to welcome them both to the team and look forward to capitalising on their respective experiences as we begin an exciting year ahead.”