Assura hires from DB Symmetry and MAG

Warrington healthcare property investor Assura has welcomed four additions to its team as it looks to build on a strong 2017, a year that saw it raise £400m in two share placings.

The primary care building specialist has expanded its portfolio and development teams, with surveyors Lisa Grierson and Nathalie McCann joining the portfolio team from Manchester Airports Group and DB Symmetry respectively.

Before MAG, Lisa worked across the North West as a property and acquisitions manager for Lidl UK, while McCann has worked with Whitaker Horton in Manchester.

Also starting with Assura this month are chartered surveyors Jonathan Webb and Ashley Seymour, who take on senior development manager roles. Formerly directors of Matrix Medical, a specialist developer that has worked closely with Assura, the pair bring with them almost thirty years of joint experience on primary care developments for GPs and NHS trusts.

Assura’s head of development Simon Gould said: “Our partnership projects with Matrix Medical over the years have been some of the most rewarding, creating infrastructure for practices who’ve waited many years for the space and facilities they need. Bringing Jonathan and Ashley’s expertise on board completes the final stage of our ambitions to work together ever more closely.”

Head of property Spencer Kenyon added: “Our relationships with our GP tenants is the heart of our business and it’s the strength of our portfolio team which delivers the bespoke service for practices. We’re delighted to have Nathalie and Lisa on board, who both bring an invaluable mix of experience to the table.”

Along with its fundraising, Assura was busy on the acquisitions front, buying 75 medical centres for £154m in the six months to September 2017. It also completed three developments in that period.