Starwood Capital’s chief operating officer, Desmond Taljaard, has left the company to start his own real estate business.
Taljaard’s new venture, Mildmay Capital, will invest in northern European hotels.
He spent six years at Starwood Capital, following a two-year stint as development director for M&A at hotel, pub and café chain operator Whitbread.
He also spent eight years as global head of real estate for Hilton hotels.
Global investment firm Starwood has $22m (€17m) of assets under management as of September 2012.
