Sirius Real Estate has appointed Major General (Retd) Angus Fay C.B. as its new strategic defence adviser, aiming to leverage its portfolio to meet the increasing demand for defence-related real estate across Europe. The appointment comes amid significant increases in defence spending in both the UK and Germany.
With Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz securing approval for a €900 bn infrastructure and defence spending package, and the UK undergoing its Strategic Defence Review, Sirius anticipates a surge in demand for properties suitable for military logistics and resilience. The company estimates that up to 20% of its portfolio is suitable for defence-related purposes, with much of its estate having been in military use in the past, whether as factories or transport hubs for military logistics.
Andrew Coombs, CEO of Sirius Real Estate, commented: “Angus Fay is a leading military logistics expert and his appointment as Strategic Adviser demonstrates Sirius’ intent to create options within its portfolio to capitalise on increased demand from the defence industry in the U.K. and Germany. Increased defence spending will lead to growing requirements among defence-related real estate occupiers. With Angus’s advice we can enhance our aim of creating optionality for these uses across our portfolio, while assisting governments with their defence goals.”
Angus Fay, now Managing Director of Squarcle Consulting Ltd., a leading technology-enabled specialist supply chain optimisation consultancy, said: “Sirius Real Estate’s portfolio is well-positioned to support resilience and defence-related readiness objectives, and I will be adding my own advice to the Company’s undoubted expertise in this arena. As NATO and allied governments call for deeper industry integration and with increased military spending in Germany and the U.K., Sirius is well placed to support businesses as they seek to meet the requirements of rapid mobilisation, flexible use of space and highly secure resilient infrastructure. There will be a need to store and disperse equipment across Europe and industrial property like that within Sirius’ portfolio is the best home for this.”
People mentioned:
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Andrew Coombs – CEO, Sirius Real Estate
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Angus Fay – Strategic Defence Adviser, Sirius Real Estate
Image: Angus Fay
Companies mentioned:
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Sirius Real Estate – Property company listed on the London Stock Exchange and the premium segment of the main board of the JSE Limited
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Squarcle Consulting Ltd. – Technology-enabled specialist supply chain optimisation consultancy
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