Urban Rest appoints WeWork exec Gahir to lead EMEA expansion

EMEA: Rajdeep Gahir, former head of expansion at WeWork, has joined flexible accommodation provider Urban Rest as head of portfolio growth for EMEA.

Gahir is the founder and CEO of London-based coliving brand Vivahouse and real estate venture builder CoCreations. 

She has delivered multiple build-to-rent (BTR), coliving and hotel projects in the UK and previously led WeWork’s European launch, opening more than 20 sites in 20 months. 

“I’m thrilled to be joining Urban Rest to lead the real estate growth across EMEA,” said Gahir. “The business is at an exciting stage; operating in a market where serviced apartments are one of the most attractive asset classes to investors. I’m looking forward to strengthening our partnership with real estate owners and launching more incredible apartments together for our clients.”

Izabela Szumierz, co-founder and European MD of Urban Rest, said: “Rajdeep brings exactly the kind of experience and perspective we need as we scale into Europe’s next chapter. We’ve already built a strong presence across London, and with Rajdeep on board, we’re ready to grow even faster with the support of our key property and BTR partners.”

David Whelan, CEO of Urban Rest, added: “Our expansion strategy relies on more than just great design – it’s about forming the right partnerships, hiring the right talent, and scaling in a way that meets both guest and investor needs. Rajdeep is a standout leader with vast experience in all three of these areas.”

Urban Rest operates more than 800 apartments across Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. 

In the UK, 10 properties are located in London and Ireland with four more opening in 2025. 

Highlights:

• Rajdeep Gahir has joined Urban Rest as head of portfolio growth for EMEA, bringing experience from WeWork and Vivahouse.

• Gahir previously launched more than 20 WeWork sites in 20 months and led multiple BTR and coliving developments.

• Urban Rest currently operates more than 800 apartments in four countries.

• Four additional Urban Rest properties are set to launch in 2025 across the UK and Ireland.