Name: James Nunn
Title: Senior investment manager, commercial lending, Octopus Real Estate
What I do: I source new loans across both the UK and the Republic of Ireland. If the loan is proceedable, I present it to the investment committee and then run the underwriting process through to completion.
Why I got into the property industry: My mother-in-law recommended it!
How I did it: When I completed my undergrad at Loughborough University, I worked as an estate agent in South Kensington for a year before enrolling onto a masters course studying real estate finance and law. This was the first step to becoming a chartered surveyor.
My first proper job: Graduate surveyor at BNP Paribas.
My first big break: Having taken my exams to become RICS qualified, I applied for a full-time role at BNP Paribas in the capital markets team, which I got.
My inspiration(s): Bill Browder, the CEO and co-founder of Hermitage Capital Management.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: Losing my dad.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: Competing for Team GB’s under-25s sailing team.
My biggest screw-up: Missing my interview for MI5. Needless to say, they didn’t arrange another one.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: Property is a tangible asset class, that most people have to deal with at some point in their lives. This results in many people assuming that the industry is relatively simple, but is actually multi-faceted and complex. I’m still learning daily!
When I became interested in ESG: When I was at university and wrote my dissertation on sustainable buildings.
Why I’m so passionate about DE&I: My wife runs her own business, which runs events and networks for women in business and promotes diversity within business.
My main career goals right now: Replicating our success in the British commercial bridge lending market in Ireland. We created a tailored solution for the Irish market, offering short-term bridging finance for all types of commercial property transactions, including acquisitions, refinances, and equity release. I spend my time between London and Dublin sourcing new loans.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: Nelson Mandela. I’ve married into a South African family and learnt a lot since about this inspirational man. He achieved incredible things for his country and the world, dismantling the legacy of apartheid, which has benefited future generations.
What I do in my downtime: When I’m not with my two boys, I’m sailing, skiing, running, cycling playing golf or getting in the way on our farm.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: Fighter pilot. While at Loughborough, I got very close to getting into the University Air Squadron, which would have seen me following the route of a single seat RAF pilot.
My advice for someone just starting out: Get qualified as quickly as possible and keep your experience diversified. Going too niche too soon can mean not enough depth to your career.
My motto/mantra: Be kind and pleasant to everyone; keep negative thoughts to a minimum!
