Woodbourne Group appoints former Tesco pension fund head of property
Luke Baker will support delivery of Birmingham Knowledge Quarter and other projects in £1 billion development pipeline
Property developer and investor Woodbourne Group has appointed a new chief investment officer to support the funding and delivery of its growing development and private equity pipeline, including its role as a lead partner in the £4 billion Birmingham Knowledge Quarter.
Luke Baker joins the Birmingham-based business, bringing with him significant institutional investment and development experience. He previously served as head of property at Tesco Pension Investment where he was responsible for over £6 billion of real estate and private markets assets.
The senior appointment comes at a pivotal time for the company and follows a series of major milestones for Woodbourne Group. This includes the £400 million joint venture with global real estate investor Hines, announced by the UK Government at the UK Investment Summit.
Major projects also include the recent launch of Birmingham BioCity, a £90 million, 130,000 sq ft CL2 life sciences facility, forming the first phase of delivery within Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, one of the UK’s most significant emerging innovation districts, where Woodbourne Group is acting as a key development partner.
Luke will play a key role across deal origination, capital structuring and project delivery, with a particular focus on accelerating the next phases of the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter and supporting the delivery of its life sciences, innovation, living and mixed-use pipeline.
In his role at Tesco Pension Investment, Luke led strategy formulation and implementation, deal origination and transaction management, performance delivery and risk management. Prior to this, he was a fund manager at Aviva Investors, where he was responsible for its UK-balanced real estate fund, Aviva Investors Pensions Ltd, alongside a number of value-add and opportunistic real estate investment platforms focused on alternative sectors.
Luke has a strong track record of delivering investment performance through the creation and execution of innovative strategies, with experience spanning strategic planning, capital formation, acquisitions, development and disposals. His background brings additional institutional-grade investment discipline and capital markets expertise to Woodbourne Group’s development platform.
Tani Dulay, chief executive officer of Woodbourne Group, said: “Luke brings credible institutional investment experience that aligns with our growth plans. His track record at Tesco Pension Investment and Aviva Investors underpins a strong understanding of capital allocation, risk and performance, and strengthens our ability to deliver our pipeline at pace with disciplined execution.”
Luke Baker said: “I am excited to be taking on this new role at Woodbourne Group at such an important point in its growth. Birmingham Knowledge Quarter represents a significant opportunity to deliver best-in-class space for innovation-led businesses and to reposition the district’s economic vibrancy and built environment. I look forward to contributing to its next phase of delivery and bringing forward other regeneration opportunities across Birmingham and the West Midlands.”
Woodbourne Group continues to expand its development and investment activities across the West Midlands, deploying patient capital across both direct development and private equity investments. The business is progressing a £1 billion development pipeline, with a focus on delivering institutional-grade assets aligned to life sciences, build to rent, student and industrial.
