Apache Capital announces CFO appointment and senior promotions


Apache Capital, a leading UK real estate investment manager focused on the living sectors, has appointed Scott Berry, Watkin Jones plc’s ex Group Commercial Finance Director, to the newly-created role of Chief Finance Officer. Apache’s Claire Ezekwe and Andy Hill have also been promoted to Director positions.

Scott joins Apache after almost six years at Watkin Jones plc and its third-party operational management business, Fresh Property Group, where he was Commercial Finance Director. Across both roles, Scott was responsible for the management of over 20,000 units across the build-to-rent and student accommodation sectors.

Scott’s 20+ years in finance has also included CFO positions at Northstar Asset Management, helping to launch the European business, and Fortress Investment Group, where he managed the finance teams in London, Frankfurt and Luxembourg for their Eurocastle investment vehicle.  

He will report to Chairman Mervyn Howard and Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer John Dunkerley, overseeing finance activities including tax planning, financial reporting and budget management; and contribute to the development of Apache’s internal operational platform. He will also support relations with Apache’s investors across multi-family build-to-rent – where it has a joint venture with Moda – and single-family housing, through its wholly-owned single-family housing platform Present Made. Investors currently include Harrison Street, NFU Mutual, KKR and Nuveen Real Estate. 

John Dunkerley, CEO, Apache Capital: “Scott brings with him incredible experience from the worlds of operational real estate and institutional investment. As the UK living sectors mature, we see ‘in-sourced’ operational excellence as being a key differentiator for investment managers, and Scott will help us bolster our operational capabilities as we look to scale our multi- and single-family build-to-rent strategies.”

Scott Berry, CFO, Apache Capital, said: “Apache Capital’s market-leading position was a big pull factor for me, with the business having a proven track record in assembling best-in-class portfolios that are underpinned by solid operations. We share the view that build-to-rent is still in the early days of the journey to becoming a mature, mainstream institutional asset class like purpose-built student accommodation, and that managers with genuine operational know-how and experience will stand to benefit from the sector’s growth.”


Andy Hill, who joined Apache in 2021, has been promoted to Director of multi-family housing, overseeing Apache’s multi-family build-to-rent strategy which currently includes over 4,000 apartments across 8 developments, 3,000 of which are now operational.

As part of his new role, Hill will assume lead responsibility for the management of acquisitions into the platform, investment and asset management, refinancings, recapitalisations and exit scenarios. Hill’s remit will also include the expansion of new strategies across the living sector, and to further strengthen Apache’s relationships with investment partners, including existing partners, Harrison Street, NFU Mutual, and KKR.

Claire Ezekwe becomes Apache’s new Director for Transactions & Structuring. Ezekwe will lead the firm in the provision of legal expertise across its multi-family and single-family strategies, which includes Present Made, Apache’s wholly owned single-family housing platform. Her role will encompass acting as the legal and transactional lead on real estate acquisitions, development opportunities, financings and disposals. In addition to managing external legal counsel, she will also be involved in deal structuring, due diligence and contract negotiation.    

Mervyn Howard, Executive Chairman, Apache Capital: “Hiring external talent while also nurturing that within our business will be critical to realising our mission of being the go-to partner for institutional capital looking to access the UK living sectors. We are pleased to have someone of Scott’s calibre join us, and also see the progress of Andy and Claire, who have both played crucial roles in our growth to date.”