UK: Coliving developer and operator The Collective has appointed Simon Koster as CEO, with founder Reza merchant taking the role of chairman.
Koster joined The Collective in 2019 as head of US development, before becoming group development and operations director in 2020.
Before joining he spent a decade at JDS Development Group, a real estate development, construction and acquisition firm known for its residential, hospitality and mixed-use projects in New York City and Miami. As a principal at JDS, Koster oversaw the planning, design, coordination and construction management teams across all JDS projects.
Koster, who will split his time between the UK and US, takes the helm as The Collective has 1,623 operating units and a development pipeline of 6,590 units across the UK, US and Germany.
He said: “I am honoured to accept the role of CEO at The Collective at an exciting moment in its growth, and appreciative of the trust I’ve been given by the entire board of directors and our executive committee. Reza’s vision has not only created the incredible purpose-led global company that exists today, but also unlocked a new way of living for many people around the world through a pioneering model. My aim is to take the company that Reza has built to the next stage of its evolution and maintaining our global leadership position, as we continue to focus on delivering our global pipeline of projects and operating our existing portfolio. Our long-stay operational assets have performed well throughout the pandemic, proving the business model and appeal of The Collective’s assets to members at the most testing of times.”
Merchant said: “From humble beginnings, I’m so proud of what we have created so far at The Collective. As we move into our next stage of growth and are laser focused on delivery of our global projects, I am delighted to pass on the day-to-day running of the business to Simon, whose technical experience in developing some of the US’s most recognisable buildings and exceptional management approach will be crucial over the next few years as we bring more projects online. I’ve seen the business evolve from a small startup to the respected global company it is today – and this transition of daily leadership to Simon now will set us up for success in the long term and enable me to focus on our longer-term vision and purpose as a business.”
