Richard Simpson joints new UK living platform as investment head

A new UK living platform, spearheaded by student accommodation veteran Tim Butler, has appointed Richard Simpson as its managing director of Investment.

Richard Simpson

This hiring signals the platform's intent to build a strong leadership team under Butler, who previously founded Student Roost and was a founding shareholder and director at UNITE Group.

The platform is backed by AustralianSuper, Australia's largest pension fund, which committed A$1.1 bn (€585 mln) in October 2025. The goal is to become one of the top five operators of rental homes in the UK within the next five years.

Richard Simpson brings over 20 years of experience in student accommodation and residential development and management. He was previously CEO of Olympian Homes, where he oversaw a £700 mln (€819 mln) pipeline of student and residential projects. His experience also includes serving as CEO of Watkin Jones and Group Property Director at UNITE Group.

The platform has already acquired operational assets in major UK cities like London, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff, Birmingham, and Leicester, along with a development project in Bristol expected to be completed in 2027.

Tim Butler, CEO of the new platform, commented: “We have a clear ambition to build a market-leading living platform in the UK with a level of service offering that means residents want to stay with us as their lives progress and rental requirements change.  “Key to achieving that goal is assembling a first-class team and appointing Richard to head our investment programme exemplifies that aim.”

Richard Simpson added: “The ambition that Tim Butler has for this platform and the team he is assembling represent a unique and exciting opportunity.  It is a particularly compelling time in the UK Living investment cycle, and I look forward to helping grow the business and deploying capital into what we see as a very attractive market opportunity.”