Developer adds to team after year of growth

Birmingham-based property developer, Cordia Blackswan has reported a year-on-year growth of the business by 143%.

The company has made four new appointments and an internal promotion to strengthen its senior leadership team. This brings the Cordia Blackswan team up to 17 members, with plans for further growth in the new year as it acquires new sites for development.

The senior leadership team has been bolstered with the promotion of Ben Marton from finance manager to finance director. Marton has been with the company since January 2021 and has a wealth of experience gained in previous roles as corporate finance manager at Student Roost, and over six years working in audit at firms including BDO and PWC.

Alexa Woodward has been hired as head of design. She has worked on a number of the city’s most notable projects, including the Rotunda, The Exchange (Former Municipal Bank) as well as contributing the Birmingham City Councils Design, Conservation and Heritage Panel.

Catherine Howe has joined as project manager, where she previously held this role at Projex Buildings Solutions and Turner and Townsend. Abita Robinson has joined the team as development surveyor and has a wealth of experience under his belt, with previous roles at West Midlands Combined Authority and Citizen.

Ravinder Khatkar also joins the company as legal manager from Eversheds Sutherland and Wright Hassall, withexperience of working in both the residential and commercial property sector.

Cordia Blackswan has an ambition to deliver a pipeline of 2,500 residential and commercial units in the West Midlands in the next five years, supporting the growth of the region.

Marcus Hawley, managing director at Cordia Blackswan, said: “After a strong first half of 2021 and a series of new appointments earlier in the year, we are thrilled that the Cordia Blackswan team is continuing to strengthen and grow. Our new additions bring a wealth of knowledge to our team of placemaking experts, so it’s great to have them on board.

“With our project to transform Great Hampton Street into an appealing, contemporary urban setting in the planning stage, it’s crucial that we have a strong and experienced team to support the execution of our vision. The strategic growth of our team allows us to do this, and to continue to expand our work in providing much-needed housing to support the city’s growth.”