Target Fund Managers, the external manager to Target Healthcare REIT, the investor in purpose-built care homes has appointed Maria Gaurino (pictured) as healthcare director.

She will be responsible for undertaking healthcare property analysis and reporting for future and existing group care homes and the wider market.

Gaurino has18 years’ care home management and senior consultancy experience. Most recently, she was instrumental in assisting small to medium size care home operators in delivering safe care and optimum management performance.

Mark Langford also joins as Target as finance manager from Clydesdale Bank, where he spent six years as finance manager, planning and forecasting, responsible for reviewing and improving operational performance and longer-term commercial strategy, as well as managing complex regulatory and statutory requirements across the bank. He has more than 15 years’ experience of financial planning, reporting, forecasting and accounting, having previously held senior roles at Shell UK and Vertex Data Science. 

Langford will report to finance director Gordon Bland on financial planning and analysis, management accounting, stakeholder reporting and statutory financial reporting functions, while supporting senior management with a number of ongoing commercial and strategic projects across both the business and client funds.

Emma Fernandes joins as senior marketing manager to work alongside the leadership team, overseeing all aspects of the marketing and communications programme, including content generation, news flow and research, across traditional and digital platforms. Fernandes joins from Prudential, where as key account marketing manager she was involved in the implementation of marketing and digital strategies, while also managing one-off external campaigns. She has more than 18 years’ marketing and communications experience, having previously worked at Lloyds, Standard Life Investments and RBS.

Target Fund Managers chief executive Kenneth MacKenzie said: “Understanding and successfully navigating the UK care home sector requires a specific skill set. Maria has built a track record of working alongside various stakeholders, with a consistent focus on resident care that recognises the fundamental importance of en suite wet rooms ensuring dignified care for residents, whilst supporting their well-being. This complements our ethos at Target, which is to fully commit to care whilst delivering superior returns. Mark’s appointment will broaden the strength of the finance team. He will play an important role as we continue to mature as a business, and grow our funds under management. Emma meanwhile has worked at some of the UK’s leading institutions and we look forward to her leveraging this experience to drive forward our marketing and communications function.”