Toby Courtauld
Chief Executive
Great Portland Estates

Toby Courtauld, joined Great Portland Estates plc in April 2002 as Chief Executive.  Following a period of restructuring, the team refocused the £1.6 billion portfolio back into central London and, principally, the core areas of London’s West End (82%).  Today, the Group is preparing for the eventual recovery; its portfolio is let at low average rents in buildings with potential for improvement and its balance sheet has one of the lowest gearing ratios in the sector.

After graduating from Cambridge University, Toby joined property company MEPC plc in 1991.  During the ensuing 11 years he served in a variety of positions and was a member of the management team that took the group private in June 2000.  He left MEPC in April 2002 to join Great Portland Estates.

He serves as a member of the Policy Committee of the British Property Federation, a member of the management board of the Investment Property Forum, as a Non-Executive Director of both Liv-ex Limited and the London board of Royal & Sun Alliance.