A figure who spent over two decades shaping some of Goldman Sachs' largest real estate bets has just been handed the gavel at one of Europe's most influential property institutions. Ed Siskind, Founder and CEO of real estate investment and finance firm Cale Street Partners, has been appointed Chair of ULI Europe, succeeding Anne Kavanagh for a voluntary two-year term beginning 1 July 2026.
Siskind's appointment carries weight well beyond a change of leadership at a membership organisation. He founded Cale Street Partners in 2014 in partnership with the Kuwait Investment Office, the London branch of the Kuwait Investment Authority, and the firm has since raised approximately €14bn, deploying innovative capital solutions to real estate investors across ten countries. For institutional investors and developers watching where sovereign wealth continues to anchor itself in European real estate, having a Gulf-backed platform founder now chairing ULI Europe's leadership signals a closer alignment between sovereign capital priorities and the industry body shaping European built environment policy, a dynamic not previously addressed in ULI's own leadership narrative but highly relevant to anyone tracking where large-scale institutional capital is positioning itself next.
Before founding CSP, Siskind spent 23 years at Goldman, Sachs & Co in leadership roles across the UK and US, including Global Head of the Real Estate Principal Investment Area and Co-Head of European Merchant Bank. He has been an active ULI member since 2011, serving on the Europe Executive Committee, as a Global Governing Trustee, and as a member of the Global Exchange Council.
"I'd like to extend a very warm welcome to the new Chair of ULI Europe, Ed Siskind," said Franz F. Colloredo-Mansfeld, ULI's Global Chair. "I look forward to working with Ed to build upon the strong legacy he inherits from Anne in both advancing the mission of ULI in Europe and aligning its work within the global organisation."
Outgoing Chair Anne Kavanagh, who also served seven years as a Global Board member, reflected on a tenure marked by industry turbulence: "We've continued to evolve the organisation to reflect the needs and priorities of our members during a period of uncertainty for our industry, while also ensuring that our structure is more closely aligned in Europe and Globally." Siskind himself outlined three priorities for his term, supporting new ULI Europe CEO Simon Durkin, strengthening ULI's role as a convening platform for best practice, and developing Europe's next generation of built environment talent. "Talent, and supporting Europe's next generation of built environment leaders, is another important area," he said, "and I'll be looking to leverage our industry's senior leaders in attracting new talent."
With almost 5,500 members across 15 National Council country networks in Europe alone, and over 48,000 members worldwide since ULI's founding in 1936, the institute's next two years under Siskind's stewardship will be closely watched by an industry navigating both capital scarcity and structural change.
People mentioned:
- Ed Siskind – Founder and CEO, Cale Street Partners; incoming Chair, ULI Europe
- Anne Kavanagh – Outgoing Chair, ULI Europe
- Franz F. Colloredo-Mansfeld – Global Chair, ULI
- Simon Durkin – CEO, ULI Europe
Companies mentioned:
- Cale Street Partners – Real estate investment and finance firm founded by Ed Siskind
- Urban Land Institute (ULI) – Non-profit education and research institute for the built environment
- Kuwait Investment Office – London branch of the Kuwait Investment Authority, founding partner of Cale Street Partners
- Goldman, Sachs & Co – Former employer of Ed Siskind
