CWG hires CBRE’s Pearson as investment transactions director

Canary Wharf Group has hired Stephen Pearson as director of investment transactions. Pearson’s role will be to deliver capital market transactions, and he will lead targeted disposals of assets across the portfolio to provide equity for future investment. He will join the senior management team of CWG’s chief investment officer, John Mulqueen. Pearson joins CWG after 24 years with CBRE, where he was executive director in the London capital markets team. The news comes as CWG looks to sell 319 rental homes at Wood Wharf, E14. The affordable homes are let at Tower Hamlets Standard Rent or at 80% of local market rent and are located across three housing blocks at Wood Wharf. The blocks include the 27-storey 30 Harbord Square, providing 176 intermediate rent homes, ranging from studios to three-bedroom flats, managed by Canary Wharf Communities, which was set up to operate Canary Wharf’s portfolio of affordable buildings. In addition, 50 Harbord Square provides 76 affordable homes, comprising one to four-bedroom flats, managed by Pinnacle Living on behalf of Canary Wharf Communities, and 65 Harbord Square comprises 67 affordable homes. It is understood that the sale is part of CWG’s capital recycling programme. The three blocks have been fully occupied since completion in 2021. CWG has appointed Knight Frank to market the homes.