IHM Names Top Hospitality and Living Leaders to Watch
IHM identifies key executives driving growth and major capital deployment across European and North American living and hospitality assets.
The short answer
IHM editors have spotlighted top executives expanding hospitality, residential, and student living platforms across the UK, Europe, and North America. The featured leaders oversee massive capital allocations, including £500 million from AustralianSuper and €3 billion in student housing targets.
“I’m delighted to be joining Apo at such an exciting time for the business”
The short version
- AustralianSuper backed a new UK residential platform with £500 million in initial institutional capital.
- The Boost Society is targeting €3 billion in student housing assets across France and Spain over five years.
- Casago completed a $128 million acquisition of Vacasa ahead of Joe Riley's planned transition to CEO in October 2026.
International Hospitality Media editors have identified the top leaders across hospitality, short-term rentals, build-to-rent, and purpose-built student accommodation who are steering large-scale expansion [1]. The selections feature executives executing massive capital deployments, including AustralianSuper's £500 million UK living platform and Casago's integration of Vacasa [1].
Who are the brand and operations executives driving living asset platforms?
Senior leaders taking on new operational mandates include Justine Edmonds, Johnny Langton, Karim Malak, and Joe Riley, as reported by Boutique Hotel News [1]. Justine Edmonds took up her role as managing director at Apo Group, a platform owned by Broadsword Investment Management since 2024 that manages assets such as Invesco Real Estate’s Kew Bridge and Barking Wharf schemes [1]. Edmonds brings over 20 years of UK residential experience from LRG and serves on the British Property Federation's Build to Rent Committee [1].
Johnny Langton joined a newly launched, unnamed residential platform backed by AustralianSuper as head of operations [1]. The platform was founded by Tim Butler and holds an initial £500 million of institutional capital [1]. Langton spent over 12 years at Greystar and previously served as interim managing director at Student Roost [1].
According to Boutique Hotel News, Karim Malak was named chief executive of The Boost Society, the PBSA division of BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts backed by AXA and Norway's sovereign wealth fund [1]. Malak previously led the international expansion of Adagio Aparthotels and served as chief executive of easyHotel [1]. In the short-term rental market, Joe Riley serves as president of Casago and will succeed founder Steve Schwab as chief executive in October 2026 [1]. Riley, a former White House director for Indo-Pacific Security and founder of Patriot Family Homes, joined Casago in September 2024 and helped lead its $128 million acquisition of Vacasa in May 2025 [1].
How are real estate developers and industry bodies evolving?
Real estate developers are bringing hotel operations in-house while industry advocacy groups are consolidating under single leadership teams [1]. Preet Ahluwalia leads Dominus alongside directors Husnall and Jay, having developed 15 hotels totalling more than 4,000 keys since the company was launched in 2011 by Sukhpal Ahluwalia [1]. In March 2025, Dominus launched an in-house management platform, Dominus Hospitality, bringing internal operations to five owned properties: The Derby London City, The Dixon, Lost Property, and Hampton by Hilton hotels in Bath and London [1].
Boutique Hotel News also highlighted Vanessa Hale, who was appointed as the first chief executive of Real Estate:UK [1]. The organisation was formed through the merger of the Association of Real Estate Funds, the British Property Federation, and the Investment Property Forum following a unanimous vote across all three memberships [1]. Hale previously served as head of research and strategy at BNP Paribas Real Estate [1].
| Executive | Company / Organisation | Role | Key Focus or Capital Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justine Edmonds | Apo Group | Managing Director | Living markets, single-family and multifamily management |
| Johnny Langton | Unnamed Platform (AustralianSuper) | Head of Operations | £500 million initial deployment across UK PBSA, coliving, BTR |
| Karim Malak | The Boost Society (BNPP AM Alts) | Chief Executive | Targeting €3 billion in European student housing assets |
| Joe Riley | Casago | President (Incoming CEO Oct 2026) | Integration of $128M Vacasa acquisition and franchise growth |
| Preet Ahluwalia | Dominus Group | Chief Executive Officer | In-house operations via Dominus Hospitality and urban PBSA schemes |
| Vanessa Hale | Real Estate:UK | Chief Executive | Unification of AREF, BPF, and IPF memberships |
Reported by
This article was written from the following reporting. Follow the links for the original coverage.
- [1]IHM Names Top Hospitality and Living Leaders to Watch— Boutique Hotel News
Frequently asked
+Who is leading AustralianSuper's new UK residential platform?
The platform was founded by Tim Butler, with Johnny Langton appointed as head of operations. Langton previously spent over 12 years at Greystar and served as interim managing director at Student Roost, bringing operational experience to the £500 million institutional platform.
+What growth target has The Boost Society set under Karim Malak?
Under new chief executive Karim Malak, The Boost Society is targeting €3 billion in assets within five years. The BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts division operates student housing and coliving properties under the KLEY and Hife brands across France and Spain.
+When does Joe Riley take over as CEO of Casago?
Joe Riley will succeed founder Steve Schwab as chief executive of Casago in October 2026. Riley joined the company as president in September 2024 after leading Patriot Family Homes, and played a major role in Casago's $128 million acquisition of Vacasa.
+How is Dominus expanding its operational footprint?
Dominus launched in-house management platform Dominus Hospitality in March 2025 to operate five owned properties, including The Derby, The Dixon, and Lost Property. Led by CEO Preet Ahluwalia, the company also completed its first student housing development in Hammersmith in June 2025.
+What is Real Estate:UK and who is leading it?
Real Estate:UK is a unified industry body formed from the merger of the Association of Real Estate Funds, the British Property Federation, and the Investment Property Forum. Vanessa Hale, formerly head of research and strategy at BNP Paribas Real Estate, was appointed as its first chief executive.
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