BNP Paribas Real Estate (BNPPRE) has appointed Samantha Rowland as its new head of healthcare and Colin Rees-Smith a as a senior director in the healthcare team.

Both will start in their new roles next month and join from Savills where they collectively spent 36 years working together.

Rowland has more than 20 years’ specialist experience in the healthcare and senior living sectors, from extra care/assisted living including retirement villages, elderly and specialist care homes, special schools, children’s homes, secure units, medical centres and hospitals. An advisor to both private and institutional clients, Rowland’s experience covers advisory and transactional together with valuation of healthcare property assets including annual portfolio valuations.

Rees-Smith career in the healthcare market spans more than 30 years working with institutional and private investors, charities, housing associations, councils and NHS trusts. He covers a wide range of subsectors which include care and nursing homes, specialist care, the Harley Street enclave, medical, independent hospitals, secure units and retirement/senior living facilities. In the past decade he has focused primarily on transactional and consultancy services, specialising in land sales, going concerns, investments and vacant properties.

Stephen Wolfe, head of commercial at BNP Paribas Real Estate, said: “The healthcare market represents the ultimate life cycle sector and the UK’s demographics will ensure it continues to attract significant investment from some of the leading names in the commercial real estate sector. BNPPRE is the only UK real estate advisor to be part of a banking group. This financial fluency means that our ability to provide not just sector expertise but also financial solutions and insight is unrivalled, which is particularly relevant in an operational market such as healthcare.

“With this far-reaching sector only expected to grow, the opportunity is significant. With that, Samantha and Colin’s arrival further cements our position as a leading advisor. They bring unrivalled experience and a deep understanding of healthcare real estate, and will play a crucial role in providing current and future clients with best in class advice as the sector presents new opportunities in the coming years.”

Rowland said: “Growing elderly populations, rising healthcare costs, increased healthcare spending and lack of supply have been long-term drivers for this sector. The pandemic has reinforced these drivers and we are undoubtedly entering a period that will see an even bigger focus on the sector. Investment in healthcare attracted record levels last year, and the breadth of assets continues to diversify as new capital enters the market. The fundamentals for the sector remain very positive, but as the core market and key subsectors mature, the need for specialist advice and a full-service offer has never been greater.”