Nido appoints chief exec as it gears for growth

Nido Living as appointed Carlo Matta as its chief executive. The European student accommodation platform, which is owned by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, is looking to accelerate its growth strategy after Round Hill Capital’s exit from the venture last month.  Matta was previously president of CA Ventures’ European business, where he successfully directed the business into new markets such as Spain, Italy, Ireland, and the UK. During his six-year tenure at CA Ventures, he spearheaded the development of 4,500 PBSA beds and the management of 6,000 beds across continental Europe and the UK. He has also held roles including managing director at Hines Europe, where he led Hines’ pan-European office development fund, and chief executive of Actis’s portfolio company Laurus Development Partners. In his new role, Matta will work closely with Darren Gardner, chief operating officer of Nido. Gardner will continue to lead operational activities across the expanded platform. Nido will focus its growth in “core target markets of Germany, Italy, and Spain”. Matta said: “Nido presents an exceptional opportunity to combine its strong brand and operational excellence with development and investment, driving the business to new heights. I am thrilled to embark on this journey with such a talented team, supportive shareholder, and strong capital backing.” Gardner added: “His experience in development, investment, and acquisition activities in Europe will be instrumental as we look to expand the portfolio and capitalise on the integration of these activities. Nido remains committed to delivering exceptional service to its partners and customers, and will continue to prioritise its people, brand and core values across all locations.”