Savills Investment Management has appointed Andrew Dreaneen to the new role of Global Head of Natural Capital where he will work with its existing rural advisory practice.

Andrew joins from Schroders, where he spent 23 years, most recently as Head of Alternatives focusing on natural capital. His role covered primarily fund investments in forestry, farmland and conservation-based strategies, as well as direct investments in natural climate solutions and carbon markets. Prior to this, he spent two years working in the forestry and farmland investment arm of New Zealand’s leading rural insurance company FMG.

Savills UK was founded in 1855 as a rural practice and expanded into residential estate agency and commercial advisory. The rural business remains a key division with over 790 dedicated professionals across 34 UK offices.

There is increasing institutional demand for natural capital strategies but very few compelling products on the market. While natural capital is a relatively new concept, Savills is one of the only firms which offers the full suite of in-house capabilities to institutional investors and a genuinely diversified rural land management strategy.

The team manages over 3.5 million acres of UK land on behalf of institutions, corporate organisations and private individuals with advisory and management expertise spanning across forestry, food and farming, nature-based solutions, renewable energy, and strategic projects. Supported by a dedicated rural research department, Savills’ specialist teams work at the forefront of the latest trends and emerging opportunities across rural disciplines.

Alex Jeffrey, CEO of Savills IM, says: “We are delighted to welcome Andrew to Savills IM. Andrew joins at an exciting time for our business as we develop and launch our natural capital investment offering. We believe the Savills Group is uniquely positioned to offer institutional investors an integrated platform with deep capabilities in rural investment and management.”

Dreaneen adds: “There is increasing institutional demand for natural capital strategies but very few compelling products on the market. While natural capital is a relatively new concept, Savills is one of the only firms which offers the full suite of in-house capabilities to institutional investors and a genuinely diversified rural land management strategy.”

Savills IM is a global investment manager with more than €25 billion in assets under management. Savills IM is headquartered in London, UK and has a local presence in 12 countries in Europe and Asia Pacific. Savills IM’s natural capital investment division will leverage the wider firm’s existing rural expertise to offer innovative and impactful natural capital strategies to institutional investors.