Culture & Team
"Many companies talk about their values as abstract concepts or aspirational ideals. At Castleforge, our values matter: they are at the core of who we are, who we hire, and how we work."
Michael Kovacs, Founding Partner
Who We Are
We started out as a small team of experts, united by an entrepreneurial spirit and the energy to get things done. Even though we have grown, we still maintain our boutique feel and distinctive culture.
We operate transparently and clearly, encouraging collaboration and expecting excellence. We provide real challenges, opportunities and room to grow. By focusing on continuous transformation and, continuously improving our systems and processes, we free up time for our talented team to be more creative, innovative and entrepreneurial. This brings depth, breadth, and a breath of fresh air to an industry that’s changed far too little, for far too long.
Our Team
Michael Kovacs
Founding Partner
Experience
Prior to founding Castleforge in 2010, Michael worked at Westbrook Partners in London, where he was involved in transactions representing over £2bn of asset value for Westbrook's various funds in the UK, Europe and Asia across a diverse range of real estate investment types.
Prior to Westbrook Partners, Michael worked at the Blackstone Group in New York.
Michael graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Responsibilities
Member of the Investment Committee.
Adam MacLeod
Partner
Experience
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2015, Adam worked for Sullivan & Cromwell LLP in London as a corporate lawyer, where he advised a number of large corporate and financial clients in corporate, mergers and acquisitions, leveraged finance and capital markets transactions.
Prior to Sullivan & Cromwell, Adam worked at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in London and New York.
Adam graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He also has a JD from the Columbia University School of Law.
Responsibilities
Member of the Investment Committee.
Julian Feldman
Partner
Experience
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2014, Julian worked at Allen & Overy LLP in London and New York as a corporate lawyer across a broad range of corporate transactions, including real estate, mergers and acquisitions, project finance, and securities offerings.
Julian graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and received a JD and MBA, with honours, from the University of Texas School of Law and the University of Texas McCombs Business School.
Julian is admitted as an attorney in the State of New York and as a solicitor in England and Wales.
Responsibilities
Member of the Investment Committee.
Iris Zhao-Fiorello
Head of Capital Formation and Investment Solutions
Experience
Iris has nearly two decades of experience investing in the private market, advising institutional investors and building business platforms.
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2021, Iris was a Managing Director at GCM Grosvenor, where she headed its global growth and venture as well as Asian private equity verticals.
Prior to joining GCM Grosvenor, Iris was a Partner in the Customized Fund Investment Group of Credit Suisse Group AG, which specialized in providing customized private market solutions to institutional investors. Iris started in CFIG’s New York office as an investment generalist, led the establishment of the CFIG’s Hong Kong office and is a founding member of its London office.
Iris currently serves on the board of Private Equity Women Investor Network (PEWIN) and PEWIN Foundation.
Responsibilities
Iris is responsible for Castleforge’s capital formation and business development efforts. She works with investors globally on fund investment, co-investment and other partnership opportunities offered by Castleforge.
Iris is integrally involved in the firm’s development of fund products and other investment solutions.
Mike Adcock
Head of Acquisitions
Experience
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2018, Mike worked at Blackstone as an Asset Manager in the UK Real Estate arm, responsible for the performance of over £2bn of real estate, focused towards Central London offices.
Mike has experience as a broker both with Savills Central London Investment division and LSH’s national Capital Markets team.
Mike qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 2009 and holds a BSc in Geography from the University of Leeds and an MSc in Real Estate Management from The University of Reading.
Responsibilities
Mike oversees the acquisitions team, which is primarily responsible for sourcing and reviewing potential assets and conducting due diligence.
Lauren Brownlow
Head of People
Experience
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2020, Lauren spent a decade in people leadership positions supporting growing SMEs across fintech, insurance, digital health and financial publishing.
Lauren started her career with South African Airways, progressing to lead Human Resources in the UK.
Lauren holds a BA in Business Management and a BA in Social Science from the University of Queensland.
Responsibilities
Lauren oversees human resources at Castleforge and is responsible for driving talent, performance, development and engagement initiatives.
Laura Ruthven
Head of Investor Relations
Experience
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2020, Laura was a Principal at an emerging market private equity fund where she was responsible for investor relations, project management and fundraising.
Laura started her career in the investment banking division at Deutsche Bank working closely with the COO on business management and development.
Laura holds a BA Hons in Arabic with Economics from the University of Durham.
Responsibilities
Laura is responsible for all investor relations activities across the business.
Matthew Reid
Head of Development & Asset Management
Experience
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2019, Matt worked as a Senior Project Manager in Design & Construction at Tishman Speyer.
Prior to this, Matt worked for Arup, as a Senior Structural Engineer in the Buildings Group.
Matt holds a BASc in Civil Engineering from Syracuse University, an MSc in Structural Engineering from Columbia University and graduated with an MBA from the School of Management at SDA Bocconi.
Responsibilities
Matt oversees Castleforge’s development and asset management teams which are responsible for coordinating the design and refurbishment of assets, as well as communicating and working with external contractors and other market participants.
Matt is also responsible for overseeing the implementation of Castleforge’s ESG strategy at each property.
Matthew Lederer
Hotel Acquisitions Director
Experience
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2020, Matt worked as the UK Development Director at Marriott International, where he was responsible for growth of the company’s select service brands including Moxy, Residence Inn and Courtyard by Marriott.
Prior to this, Matt also worked at commercial real estate firm, JLL in their Hotels and Hospitality Group.
Matt holds an MA in Management Studies from Aberdeen University and an MSc in Surveying from the College of Estate Management.
Responsibilities
Matt is responsible for hotel acquisitions in the UK and Europe. This includes sourcing and contractually securing appropriate hotel brands and operators.
Matt is also responsible for sourcing and executing hotel financing solutions.
Neil Smith
Chief Financial Officer
Experience
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2023, Neil was Chief Operating Officer at Invest and Fund Limited, where he was responsible for overseeing the operations of the entire business at a strategic level.
Prior to this, Neil was the Head of Fund Finance and Operations at Bridgepoint Advisers, and had previously held positions at the Carlyle Group and Mazars.
Neil holds a BSc (Joint Hons) in Business with Accounting and Finance from Nottingham Trent Business School. Neil is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.
Responsibilities
Neil manages financial activities at Castleforge and is responsible for overseeing the finance and accounting functions.
Experience
Prior to founding Castleforge in 2010, Michael worked at Westbrook Partners in London, where he was involved in transactions representing over £2bn of asset value for Westbrook's various funds in the UK, Europe and Asia across a diverse range of real estate investment types.
Prior to Westbrook Partners, Michael worked at the Blackstone Group in New York.
Michael graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Responsibilities
Member of the Investment Committee.
Experience
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2015, Adam worked for Sullivan & Cromwell LLP in London as a corporate lawyer, where he advised a number of large corporate and financial clients in corporate, mergers and acquisitions, leveraged finance and capital markets transactions.
Prior to Sullivan & Cromwell, Adam worked at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in London and New York.
Adam graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He also has a JD from the Columbia University School of Law.
Responsibilities
Member of the Investment Committee.
Experience
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2014, Julian worked at Allen & Overy LLP in London and New York as a corporate lawyer across a broad range of corporate transactions, including real estate, mergers and acquisitions, project finance, and securities offerings.
Julian graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and received a JD and MBA, with honours, from the University of Texas School of Law and the University of Texas McCombs Business School.
Julian is admitted as an attorney in the State of New York and as a solicitor in England and Wales.
Responsibilities
Member of the Investment Committee.
Experience
Iris has nearly two decades of experience investing in the private market, advising institutional investors and building business platforms.
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2021, Iris was a Managing Director at GCM Grosvenor, where she headed its global growth and venture as well as Asian private equity verticals.
Prior to joining GCM Grosvenor, Iris was a Partner in the Customized Fund Investment Group of Credit Suisse Group AG, which specialized in providing customized private market solutions to institutional investors. Iris started in CFIG’s New York office as an investment generalist, led the establishment of the CFIG’s Hong Kong office and is a founding member of its London office.
Iris currently serves on the board of Private Equity Women Investor Network (PEWIN) and PEWIN Foundation.
Responsibilities
Iris is responsible for Castleforge’s capital formation and business development efforts. She works with investors globally on fund investment, co-investment and other partnership opportunities offered by Castleforge.
Iris is integrally involved in the firm’s development of fund products and other investment solutions.
Experience
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2018, Mike worked at Blackstone as an Asset Manager in the UK Real Estate arm, responsible for the performance of over £2bn of real estate, focused towards Central London offices.
Mike has experience as a broker both with Savills Central London Investment division and LSH’s national Capital Markets team.
Mike qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 2009 and holds a BSc in Geography from the University of Leeds and an MSc in Real Estate Management from The University of Reading.
Responsibilities
Mike oversees the acquisitions team, which is primarily responsible for sourcing and reviewing potential assets and conducting due diligence.
Experience
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2020, Lauren spent a decade in people leadership positions supporting growing SMEs across fintech, insurance, digital health and financial publishing.
Lauren started her career with South African Airways, progressing to lead Human Resources in the UK.
Lauren holds a BA in Business Management and a BA in Social Science from the University of Queensland.
Responsibilities
Lauren oversees human resources at Castleforge and is responsible for driving talent, performance, development and engagement initiatives.
Experience
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2020, Laura was a Principal at an emerging market private equity fund where she was responsible for investor relations, project management and fundraising.
Laura started her career in the investment banking division at Deutsche Bank working closely with the COO on business management and development.
Laura holds a BA Hons in Arabic with Economics from the University of Durham.
Responsibilities
Laura is responsible for all investor relations activities across the business.
Experience
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2019, Matt worked as a Senior Project Manager in Design & Construction at Tishman Speyer.
Prior to this, Matt worked for Arup, as a Senior Structural Engineer in the Buildings Group.
Matt holds a BASc in Civil Engineering from Syracuse University, an MSc in Structural Engineering from Columbia University and graduated with an MBA from the School of Management at SDA Bocconi.
Responsibilities
Matt oversees Castleforge’s development and asset management teams which are responsible for coordinating the design and refurbishment of assets, as well as communicating and working with external contractors and other market participants.
Matt is also responsible for overseeing the implementation of Castleforge’s ESG strategy at each property.
Experience
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2020, Matt worked as the UK Development Director at Marriott International, where he was responsible for growth of the company’s select service brands including Moxy, Residence Inn and Courtyard by Marriott.
Prior to this, Matt also worked at commercial real estate firm, JLL in their Hotels and Hospitality Group.
Matt holds an MA in Management Studies from Aberdeen University and an MSc in Surveying from the College of Estate Management.
Responsibilities
Matt is responsible for hotel acquisitions in the UK and Europe. This includes sourcing and contractually securing appropriate hotel brands and operators.
Matt is also responsible for sourcing and executing hotel financing solutions.
Experience
Prior to joining Castleforge in 2023, Neil was Chief Operating Officer at Invest and Fund Limited, where he was responsible for overseeing the operations of the entire business at a strategic level.
Prior to this, Neil was the Head of Fund Finance and Operations at Bridgepoint Advisers, and had previously held positions at the Carlyle Group and Mazars.
Neil holds a BSc (Joint Hons) in Business with Accounting and Finance from Nottingham Trent Business School. Neil is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.
Responsibilities
Neil manages financial activities at Castleforge and is responsible for overseeing the finance and accounting functions.
Our Values
-
Visionary
We always look to the future, so that our business remains at the forefront of change.
-
Entrepreneurial
We find a way and figure it out, even if that means taking a risk and failing.
-
Uncompromising
We expect the best from ourselves, and we accept nothing less from others.
-
Collaborative
We work as a team, since that is how we get the best results.
-
Responsible
We trust each other more because we each take ownership over everything we do.
Our Values
Visionary
We always look to the future, so that our business remains at the forefront of change.
Entrepreneurial
We find a way and figure it out, even if that means taking a risk and failing.
Uncompromising
We expect the best from ourselves, and we accept nothing less from others.
Collaborative
We work as a team, since that is how we get the best results.
Responsible
We trust each other more because we each take ownership over everything we do.
