by Edwina Governey, Hibernia REIT plc

On Friday 14 October 2016, a group of 18 ULI Young Leaders in Ireland enjoyed an insightful Lunch & Learn discussion with Peter Collins, Chief Operating Officer of Kennedy Wilson Europe.

Peter began by taking the group through his career to date which commenced in Arthur Anderson (where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant) followed by a period in corporate finance. Immediately prior to joining Kennedy Wilson, Peter worked for Bank of Ireland with a focus on real estate investment outside Ireland. Peter (and a team of 13) left Bank of Ireland in 2011 to form the foundation of Kennedy Wilson’s business in Ireland.

Peter then talked the group through the evolution of Kennedy Wilson; from its origins in the West Coast of the US, through Japan, and into Ireland and Europe. He explained the high level corporate structure of the group and their strategy for the European business.  He also mentioned how the firm has moved from a landlord/tenant relationship to a supplier/customer relationship.

Questions and discussions around Kennedy Wilson’s strategy and view on the Irish property market ensued with a particular focus on the build-to-rent and office sectors in Dublin. Other topics covered included increased construction costs and apartment regulations in Ireland.

Those in attendance included representatives from the legal, project management, agency, asset and investment management community.