“Don’t waste a good crisis. It’s in those moments of challenge that you have to take steps to improve—and often, that’s when the best opportunities arise.” - Duncan Garrood - Executive Series #4

PropTech Talks

Duncan Garrood, Chief Executive Officer at Empiric Student Property plc.

Empiric Student Property, a £1 Billion+ FTSE 250 portfolio and owner of Hello Student, manages over 80 purpose-built student accommodation buildings in 28 UK cities, housing 8,000+ students and providing a community-focused living experience.

Duncan Garrood is an experienced executive with over 40 years of leadership across industries including consumer goods, real estate, and hospitality. He began his career at Unilever, where he managed international business expansions, including establishing operations in China. At BAA, he oversaw global airport assets and delivered major projects like Heathrow’s Terminal 5. In the Middle East, he scaled a food and beverage business from $150M to $1.7B. In the UK, he led transformations at Punch Taverns, Bill’s Restaurants, and Ten Entertainment Group, focusing on operational efficiency and strategic growth. Currently CEO of Empiric Student Property, he focuses on optimizing assets, customer experience, and sustainability.

Tune in to this session to gain insights into the topics of:

• Scaling businesses in global markets through customer-focused growth;
• Building effective leadership teams;
• Navigating cultural challenges in international business;
• Managing stakeholder relationships in high-stakes negotiations;
• Leveraging dynamic pricing models for revenue growth;

And so much more!
Interviews with inspiring Founders, Investors, and Real Estate Executives will be shared weekly on this podcast series - follow the PropTech Talks interview series and stay tuned!

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