Richard Simpson appointed MD of new UK living platform

Richard Simpson has been appointed as Managing Director – Investment of a new UK Living platform led by Tim Butler, which aims to become one of the top five operators of UK rental homes in the next five years.

The platform is sponsored by Australia’s biggest pension fund, AustralianSuper, with an A$1.1 billion (c.£500 million) commitment made in October 2025.

Simpson’s appointment reflects an ambition to build an experienced leadership team to grow and manage the platform under CEO Tim Butler, the founder and co-investor of Student Roost and one of the founding shareholders and main board director of UNITE Group plc.

Simpson joins from his role as CEO of Olympian Homes where he directed the delivery of a £700 million student accommodation and residential pipeline across the UK. He has more than 20 years of student accommodation and residential development and management experience, including roles as CEO of Watkin Jones and as Group Property Director at UNITE Group plc, where he also sat on the board of directors.

“We have a clear ambition to build a market leading living platform in the UK with a level of service offering that means residents want to stay with us as their lives progress and rental requirements change”, said Butler. “Key to achieving that goal is assembling a first-class team and appointing Richard to head our investment programme exemplifies that aim.”

“The ambition that Tim Butler has for this platform and the team he is assembling represent a unique and exciting opportunity.”, said Simpson. “It is a particularly compelling time in the UK Living investment cycle and I look forward to helping grow the business and deploying capital into what we see as a very attractive market opportunity.”