The Urban Land Institute (ULI) has appointed Simon Durkin as chief executive, Europe, succeeding Lisette van Doorn when she steps down in March.
Simon Durkin
Durkin joins from BlackRock, where he was global head of real estate research and strategy.
He brings more than two decades of real estate experience spanning applied research and capital markets and has held senior leadership and investment committee positions at BNP Paribas and DWS.
He also gained earlier experience in data and index development at IPD and PPR.
A spokesperson for the real estate network said his appointment continued the ULI’s mission to focus on member value, decision-making relevance and long-term impact across the built environment.
The ULI said Durkin would work closely with the team to sharpen its value proposition for members from across the built environment, strengthening the clarity and coherence of its programmes and communications and ensuring that the organisation research and insights continued to support informed decision-making.
He will join the senior leadership team led by global chief executive Angela Cain to ensure that the work of the Europe branch is aligned with the global membership platform, while also working closely with Anne Kavanagh, ULI Europe chair and ULI global board member, to ensure continuity and stability.
Cain said: “We are delighted to welcome Simon to the ULI. He brings a rare combination of strategic clarity, commercial understanding and deep respect for evidence-based insight. His leadership will strengthen ULI Europe’s relevance and impact, at a time when the industry needs a trusted perspective and long-term thinking more than ever.”
Durkin added: “ULI Europe is built on a strong foundation and has an increasingly important role to play as the real estate and built environment evolve amid structural, macroeconomic and geopolitical change. My priority is to work closely with the team, building on the legacy Lisette has created.
“The ULI continues to adapt while remaining a trusted, credible and valuable resource for our members. That means sharpening our focus, strengthening alignment across our work and deepening our emphasis on insight, learning and convening, creating the space for informed discussion and debate that supports better long-term decision-making and resilient value creation.”
Van Doorn announced last year that she would be stepping down from her role to spend more time with her family.
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