Schroders hires Natalie Howard as head of real estate debt

Schroders hires Natalie Howard as head of real estate debt
Natalie Howard Image: Courtesy of Schroders

Schroders has hired Natalie Howard as head of real estate debt.

Natalie Howard has extensive experience spanning debt capital markets, balance sheet lending and fund management gained via senior roles at organisations including DRC Capital, AgFe, Lehman Brothers, Barclays Capital and Morgan Stanley.

Based in London, Natalie Howard will be responsible for building a real estate debt platform offering clients the complete range of risk and return investing throughout the real estate debt spectrum. She will report to Sophie van Oosterom, Schroders’ Global Head of Real Estate.

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The platform will include loan origination, underwriting and asset management across the UK and Continental Europe, covering all types of senior lending as well as high yield and mezzanine capabilities.  

“Natalie brings over 30 years’ experience and an excellent track record across commercial real estate debt strategies in UK and European markets to Schroders Real Estate. This is a strategically important hire for us as we look to leverage our strong real estate expertise to provide a comprehensive service to our client base,” said Sophie van Oosterom, Schroders’ Global Head of Real Estate.

“Real estate debt strategies complement our current offering while our local presence in the main European markets strongly positions us to source, underwrite and deliver performance for our clients,” she added.

Natalie Howard, Schroders’ Head of Real Estate Debt, commented: “Real estate debt has become an established asset class, having grown in popularity with insurance companies, pension funds and asset managers looking to diversify their real estate and fixed income portfolios. I am excited to be joining the Schroders’ Real Estate team. In this new role, I will be focused on developing Schroders’ comprehensive capability in the real estate debt area to meet the evolving needs of clients.”   

Schroder Real Estate forms part of Schroders’ Private Assets business, which is a key strategic priority for the firm. This capability includes private equity, infrastructure, microfinance and impact investments, insurance-linked securities and securitised credit and has combined assets under management of £45.3 billion.