Meet our people

Aaron Kirkaldy is a Portfolio Management Analyst, supporting the monitoring and management of real estate finance transactions. He joined in 2026, having previously gained experience as a Credit Analyst in real estate bridging finance. Aaron holds a Postgraduate Degree in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from Durham University and a BSc in Economics from the University of York. 

Alfie Idiens is a Senior Associate, supporting the origination, underwriting, and execution of UK real estate debt investments. He has experience across real estate finance and development, gained through roles in investment analysis, development lending, and development management. Alfie began his career in equity research.

Andrew Trevor is a Financial Modelling Analyst at Pluto Finance, where he supports the underwriting and structuring of private credit transactions. He has worked as a CLO analyst, gaining experience across leveraged loans and structured credit markets. Andrew holds a First Class BSc in Economics from the University of Nottingham and has passed CFA® Level I.

Andy Blenkinsop is a Non-Executive Advisor at Pluto Finance, bringing with him 40-years of experience in the sector, including 27 years at Barclays and HBOS, where he held senior roles across origination, credit, and risk. A founding partner of Pluto Finance, he played a role in establishing the platform as a leading provider of UK residential development finance, and draws on his experience in credit, risk, and real estate finance to support lending strategy and portfolio management.

Archie Dewhurst is an Associate, supporting across the underwriting and execution of bridging and development finance transactions. Archie brings experience across real estate credit and due diligence. He holds an MSc in Real Estate with Distinction from Henley Business School.

Ashley Manning-Brown leads investor relationships and fundraising across the UK and focuses on fundraising initiatives and managing investor relations. Before joining Pluto, Ashley has more than 15 years' experience at Colombia Threadneedle managing client and consultant relationships, driving business development, and ensuring successful commercial outcomes for a diverse range of clients, including pensions schemes, local government pension funds, charities, foundations, insurance providers, and endowments. Before moving across to asset management, Ashley spent 5 years between JPMorgan and BNPParibas, both in London and New York, on the Fixed Income Derivative desks.

Bertie is a Lending Director within the Pluto Lending Team with considerable experience underwriting Development, Bridging & Investment facilities across a range of asset classes, including Residential & Mixed-use, Build-to-Rent, Commercial and Retail assets. Bertie is responsible for providing structured finance solutions to new and existing Pluto finance clients, with a particular focus on SME housebuilders. Prior to joining Pluto, Bertie worked for a private investment fund and specialised in underwriting mezzanine development facilities across London and the South of England.

Carl Bowcher is a Lending Director at Pluto Finance, where he focuses on originating and executing opportunities across the firm's lending platform. He brings over 30 years' experience in UK banking and real estate finance, having joined from Cynergy Bank, where he spent six years establishing and overseeing its development finance team. Carl has also held senior roles at Santander, Oblix Capital, NatWest, and HSBC, and is known for his relationship-led approach to lending across residential, Care, PBSA, and commercial sectors.

Chris Jackson is Financial Controller at Pluto Finance and oversees the firm's financial reporting, controls, and operational finance functions. He joined Pluto in 2025 after more than 20 years at Frogmore Real Estate Investment Managers, where he was a Financial Modeller, gaining extensive experience across real estate investment, fund structures, and financial analysis.

Ciaran Singh is Managing Director – Europe at Pluto Finance and is responsible for leading the firm’s expansion across Continental Europe. He brings over a decade of experience in private credit and real estate finance, having most recently worked at DRC Capital, sourcing and executing large, structured transactions across the UK and Europe. Prior to this, Ciaran worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. At Pluto, Ciaran drives the European growth strategy, manages in-country origination teams, and leads the origination of larger investment, bridge, and development loans across the living sector.

Darius Shekarrizi is a lending director at Pluto Finance, where he is responsible for the origination and execution of lending opportunities across the firm's platform. He brings over a decade of experience in specialist property finance, with extensive expertise in structuring and delivering real estate transactions. Darius has held senior roles across the lending market, including positions at Oblix Capital, Lendhub and Octopus property.

Debbie Fielder is a Non-Executive Adviser at Pluto Finance, bringing over 25 years' experience in investment management and pensions. She was previously Deputy Head of the Clwyd Pension Fund, a £2bn Local Government Pension Scheme, with responsibility for investment strategy and governance. Debbie is also a Non‑Executive Director of Pensions for Purpose and Investors for Purpose, and is recognised for her leadership in sustainable and long‑term investment.

Deborah Farrell is the Management Accountant who works primarily on the corporate finance side. She has over two decades' experience in finance and accounting at asset management and real estate investment firms.

Eduardo Martin is Lending Director for Iberia and leads the firm’s real estate private credit activity across Spain and Portugal. He brings over 20 years’ experience in real estate lending, having worked in senior credit roles at banks and private credit funds in London and Madrid, including at PBB, Starz, Alantra and Banco Popular. Eduardo focuses on delivering structured and direct lending solutions to the Iberian mid-market across all real estate asset classes.

Frank Pennal is a Non-Executive Advisor to Pluto Finance and brings deep experience in property finance and specialist lending from his extensive career, most notably as Chief Executive Officer of Close Brothers Property Finance Division for 19 years. He provides strategic guidance to Pluto as it continues to scale its private credit platform across the UK.

Frankie Lu is Credit and Operations Director, overseeing underwriting, portfolio management, and operational processes across the lending platform. Frankie joined Pluto in 2018, bringing international property finance experience, having previously worked in lending and credit roles at Westpac New Zealand and Heartland Bank. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Economics from the University of Auckland.

Hugo Trower is a Lending Director focused on the origination and execution of lending opportunities across Pluto's various strategies. He brings 15 years' experience across UK real estate lending and development. Prior to joining Pluto, Hugo was Chief Operating Officer of Barwood Capital's residential investment platform, providing joint venture equity funding to housebuilders and developers across the UK. He is a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) and began his career in the development team at Savills.

Jamie Drummond opened our office in Edinburgh in 2025 and supports housebuilders and commercial developers across the Scottish market. Jamie has over 30 years UK corporate banking experience including the real estate sector where he has delivered senior debt, mezzanine, and equity finance.

Jonathan Scott is Lending Director for the South West of England, where he originates and executes lending opportunities across the region. He brings more than 15 years’ experience in banking and specialist property finance, with a strong focus on the development sector. Jonathan has a track record of supporting developers across the full project lifecycle and delivering tailored financing solutions for borrowers.

Justin Faiz is CEO and Co-founder at Pluto Finance, which he established in 2011. He began his career at McKinsey & Company, before moving on to Standard Chartered Bank and then running a residential development business in Eastern Europe. Justin holds a MA in Physics from Oxford University, a M.S.E. In Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from INSEAD.

Louis Kolodziej is a senior associate at Pluto Finance focused on underwriting and execution of transactions across Europe. Prior to joining Pluto, Louis consulted at LaSalle supporting their portfolio management team and spent 5 years at Tyrus Capital focusing on pan European real estate opportunities (senior loans to preferred equity). Louis holds a BSc from University of Essex and a MSc from Imperial College London.

Mario Ioannides is an Associate Partner, who, since joining in 2015, has originated and managed more than £1 billion of residential development and bridge loans. Mario was previously at Aldermore Bank; Nationwide Building Society's commercial division and Bank of Cyprus focusing on residential and commercial development and investment loans in the UK and EU.

Max Güntner is Lending Director for Germany and the Netherlands, where he leads origination and execution as part of the firm’s European expansion. He brings nearly 20 years’ experience in real estate and structured finance, including 8 years at Deutsche Bank, and has a strong track record of originating, structuring, and executing debt transactions across all real estate asset classes.

Nathan Culley is a Bridging Analyst, supporting the underwriting and execution of short-term real estate finance transactions. He joined in 2025, having previously gained experience as a credit analyst. Nathan holds an MSc in Finance from the University of Portsmouth and BSc in Biomedical Science from the University of Southhampton.

Neil Holmes is a Non-Executive Advisor, helping to expand Pluto’s insurance investor client base through his industry relationships and insight. He brings over three decades of senior experience across banking and asset management, including leadership roles at bfinance where he developed the firm’s insurance consulting proposition, and as Head of Business Development at Conning Asset Management.

Nicholas Hogan is an Associate, supporting the underwriting and execution of real estate lending transactions. He has experience in asset management, loan origination and real estate corporate finance and holds a Master's degree in Real Estate Economics and Finance from the London School of Economics.

Perry Beckett is an Associate who works on the underwriting and execution of lending transactions. He has experience of complex real estate and corporate finance transactions from his prior roles and holds a Master in Management (Finance and Investment) from IE Business School and a BSc in International Economics and Finance from Università Bocconi in Milan.

Peter Axmann is a Non-Executive Advisor at Pluto Finance, bringing with him more than 40 years of banking experience at Hamburg Commercial Bank (an its predecessors), including over 30 years in real estate finance, where he held a series of senior roles. Most recently, he was Head of Corporate Real Estate at HCOB until October 2025. He provides his experience in origination, credit and real estate finance, especially to support Pluto’s lending strategy in Germany.

Robert Swift is Head of Investor Relations with responsibility for fundraising and managing investor relationships. Robert has considerable experience of raising institutional capital for private market investment, including real estate, private equity and infrastructure. Previously, Chief Operating Officer at Stirling Square Capital Partners and Managing Director at HSBC.

Simon Chapman is a Lending Director, originating and executing lending opportunities across the firm's strategies. He brings over 27 years' experience in the property lending sector, having previously worked at Investec and Close Brothers. Simon has experience in the short term debt finance market from bridging, residential development and investment.

Yan Hearn is an Analyst who supports on the underwriting and execution of real estate lending transactions. Yan holds a BA (Hons) in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Manchester and brings a strong understanding of credit processes and transactional execution to the team.

Zoë Rhoades is an Associate in Fundraising and Investor Relations, where she supports capital raising initiatives and the management of institutional investor relationships. Zoë has experience across investment analysis and asset management, having joined Pluto Finance from the Private Markets engine at Man Group. Zoë holds a degree in Human Sciences from the University of Oxford.