Team

Frank RoccoGrande is Founding Partner, Head of Capital Markets and Investment Committee Member of DFI. He has over 20 years of industry experience as a corporate private equity- and real estate- investor, developer, and business owner. Frank RoccoGrande has been involved in over €10 billion of real estate transactions and has extensive cross border expertise, having operated in various countries across Europe, United States and the Emerging Markets.

Independently-managed DFI is part of Munich-based Deutsche Finance Group, a global investment manager established in 2005 with €9.6 billion AUM and 120 employees across six international offices. Frank sits on DFG’s Global Investment Committee.

Prior to establishing DFI, Frank spent 6 years as Founding Partner and Senior Managing Director at BLG Capital, Turkey’s leading private equity real estate investment and development firm with over €1.5 billion AUM, from 2010 to 2016. Prior to that, he was Director at 3 Seas Capital Partners, one of Turkey’s top ranked M&A and capital advisory firms, and Partner at AccessTurkey Capital Group, one of Turkey’s leading alternative investment management firms. Frank started his career in New York City where he worked for a family office and Newtek Capital, a middle-market private equity firm focused on investments in business and financial services companies.

Frank serves as Chairman of the Board of Olympia London, the iconic Olympia exhibition centre currently undergoing transformation into a revitalized arts, entertainment and creative business quarter spread over a 14-acre site in central London’s Kensington.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree from George Washington University and a postgraduate Public Health degree from Columbia University.

Gavin Neilan is Founding Partner, Chief Investment Officer and Investment Committee Member of DFI. He has over 20 years of industry experience as a real estate investor, business owner, financier and lawyer. Gavin has been involved in over €10 billion of real estate transactions and has extensive cross border expertise, having operated in over 30 countries across Europe, United States and the Emerging Markets.

Independently-managed DFI is part of Munich-based Deutsche Finance Group, a global investment manager established in 2005 with €9.6 billion AUM and 120 employees across six international offices. Gavin sits on DFG’s Global Investment Committee.

Prior to establishing DFI, Gavin spent 6 years at a leading emerging market multi-asset class private equity firm with over US$13 billion AUM, from 2010 to 2016. As Managing Director for real estate, he was responsible for origination, investment and asset management activities across multiple markets and investment themes. From 2005 until 2009, he served within the UK real estate finance team at the Royal Bank of Scotland, which managed over £10 billion of UK real estate exposure, where he was responsible for the origination, execution and management of real estate loans and investments across the capital stack, including several landmark transactions. Gavin started his career at the global law firm Allen & Overy, where he completed his training and practised as a real estate finance lawyer from 2002 to 2005.

Gavin serves as Chairman of the Board of Olympia London, the iconic Olympia exhibition centre currently undergoing transformation into a revitalized arts, entertainment and creative business quarter spread over a 14-acre site in central London’s Kensington.

He holds an L.L.B. Law degree from the University College of London, postgraduate Law degree from Nottingham Law School, and a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD

Paul Nearchou is a Managing Director for Northern Europe at DFI. He has over 10 years of industry experience as a real estate investor. Paul has been involved in over €4 billion of real estate transactions and has extensive cross border expertise.

Prior to joining DFI, Paul spent 5 years at Patron Capital, a leading pan-European opportunistic private equity real estate manager, from 2012 to 2017. As an Investment Associate, he focused on the origination, execution and asset management of opportunistic and value-add asset-backed investments across Europe. Paul began his career in Corporate Real Estate at Goldman Sachs in London.

He holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Nottingham and a postgraduate Master’s degree in Real Estate Economics and Finance from the London School of Economics.

Juan Gomez Vega is a Managing Director and Head of Southern Europe at DFI. He has over 17 years of industry experience as a real estate investor and business owner. Juan has been involved in over €4 billion of real estate transactions and has extensive cross border expertise.

Prior to joining DFI, Juan spent 3 years at Neinor Homes, a leading Spanish homebuilder. As Chief Capital Markets Officer, he was responsible for the execution of its €1.3 billion IPO. Previously, he served as a Director at Lone Star Spain, where he was responsible for the sourcing and execution of €1.5 billion investment opportunities across Iberia. From 2016 to 2017, Juan served as Chief Executive Officer for Vilamoura World, a leading Portuguese master developer. Juan moved to Spain in 2014 with Grove International Partners, after spending 4 years as an investment professional in the pan-European opportunistic team at Deutsche Bank RREEF in London. He started his career as an investment professional at Pegasus Capital (Argentina) and later worked with Och-Ziff and Morgan Stanley, both in New York.

He holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from Universidad de Buenos Aires, a postgraduate Master’s degree in Finance from Universidad del CEMA, and an MBA from Columbia Business School. Juan is a CFA Charterholder.

Sofia joined DFI in January 2023 as Head of Asset Management. Prior to joining DFI, Sofia worked at EQT Partners as Head of Asset Management for their pan European real estate platform.

Prior to EQT Sofia worked for PGIM and NIAM managing transactions and asset management across multiple asset classes markets in Europe.

Sofia holds a B.Sc. in Civil engineering from Mid Sweden University in Härnösand, a M.Sc. in Real Estate Economics from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm and an MBA in International Business Administration from Uppsala University.

Francesco Orofino is an Investment Vice President at DFI and Head of Hospitality at DFI. He has over 8 years of industry experience as a real estate investor and management consultant. Francesco has been involved in over €1 billion of real estate transactions and has extensive cross border expertise.

Prior to joining DFI, Francesco spent one year at London and Regional Properties, one of Europe’s largest privately-held real estate investors, from 2017 to 2018. As an Investment Associate, he was responsible for the sourcing, underwriting, and execution of real estate, lodging, and leisure assets and asset-backed operating companies in Europe, UK, and the US. From 2016 to 2017, Francesco spent 2 years at CBRE Global Investors, as part of the Europe Value Partners fund series team, where he was focused on pan-European value-add investments. He previously worked within Deutsche Bank RREEF and EY as a management consultant.

He holds a Master’s degree in Real Estate Finance from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management.

Jonni Glick is an Investment Vice President at DFI. He has over 4 years of industry experience as a real estate investor. Jonni has been involved in c.€500 million of real estate transactions and has extensive cross border expertise.

Prior to joining DFI, Jonni spent 2 years at InfraRed Capital Partners, the investment and asset management arm of Sunlife with over US$12 billion AUM, from 2017 to 2019. As an Investment Analyst, he was responsible for the underwriting and execution of pan-European value-add real estate investments. Jonni started his career at Citigroup in the South African Investment Banking team where he worked on M&A and equity capital markets transactions across sectors.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Finance from the University of Cape Town and a postgraduate Master’s degree in Finance from London Business School.

Dominik Soller is an Investment Associate at DFI. He has over 4 years of industry experience as a real estate investor and investment banker. Dominik has been involved in c.€500 million of real estate transactions and has extensive cross border expertise.

Prior to joining DFI, Dominik spent 3 years at Citigroup in Frankfurt, a leading global investment bank, from 2017 to 2020. As an Investment Banking Analyst, he focused on sell- and buy- side M&A and equity capital markets transactions across multiple sectors.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in General Management from the EBS University in Oestrich-Winkel, Germany.

Candice Depollier is an Associate at DFI. She has 3 years of experience in real estate investment.

Prior to joining DFI, Candice was an Investment and Asset Management Analyst at Tristan Capital Partners between 2019 and 2021, where she worked across multiple jurisdictions and asset classes.

She holds a Master of Science in Management from ESSEC Business School – Grande Ecole, a Master’s degree in French Corporate Law from the University of Paris I – Panthéon-Sorbonne and a LL.M. in International Financial Law from King’s College London.

Enrico Ventura is an Investment Associate at DFI. He has over 2 years of experience in Corporate and Investment Banking.

Prior to joining DFI, Enrico was a Corporate and Investment Banking Analyst at Citigroup from 2019 to 2022, where he worked across multiple asset classes focusing on sell- and buy- side M&A and capital markets transactions.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics.

Xin Li is Finance Director at DFI. She has over 12 years of industry experience in finance functions.

Prior to joining DFI, Xin spent one year at Student Roost, a £1.5 billion student housing investment by Brookfield, from 2017 to 2018. As a Senior Financial Consultant, she oversaw the financial reporting process. Prior to this, Xin spent 8 years at PWC, a global professional services firm, from 2010 to 2017. As a Manager, she focused on audits of real estate clients and advised on capital market transactions in both the UK and Australia.

She holds an Honours degree in Accounting and a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of New South Wales. She is a Chartered Accountant of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand.

Michael Attfield is Head of Tax at DFI. He has 11 years of industry experience in finance and tax functions.

Prior to joining DFI, Michael spent more than 3 years at Ares Management, a leading global asset manager. As Real Estate Tax Vice President, he oversaw the tax structuring and due diligence for numerous real estate transactions in Europe, structuring of new funds and related discussions with investors, and ongoing tax compliance. From 2014 to 2017, Michael spent 3 years at Deloitte as Associate Director within the Real Estate M&A Tax department. He began his career at KPMG in various tax roles.

He holds a BA in History from the University of York and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser.

Claire Graham is an Associate Director at DFI. She has 10 years of industry experience as Fund Controller.

Prior to joining DFI, Claire spent 3 years at Round Hill Capital, a global real estate investment manager, from 2017 to 2020. As Fund Controller, she was responsible for funds investing in c.€2 billion of residential and light logistics assets across Central and Northern Europe. Prior to this, Claire spent 6 years at EY, a global professional services firm, from 2011 to 2017. As Manager, she primarily focused on the audit of real estate funds.

She holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours degree in Physics from the University of St Andrews. She is a Chartered Accountant of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Geraldine Marsh is a Fund Controller at DFI. She has 12 years of industry experience in finance functions.

Prior to joining DFI, Geraldine spent 3 years at Round Hill Capital as a Fund Controller responsible for four student accommodation funds in the UK and Germany.  Prior to this, she spent two years as a Finance Project Manager at IQ Student Accommodation.  Geraldine started her career in audit at EY in Sydney, focusing on real estate clients and had a three-month secondment to New York.

Geraldine holds a Bachelor of Design (Architecture / Urban Design & Planning) and a Bachelor of Architecture (Honours, First Class) from the University of Sydney. She is a Chartered Accountant of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand.

Sally Taylorson-Lavers is a Fund Controller at DFI. She has 10 years of industry experience as Fund Controller.

Prior to joining DFI, Sally Taylorson-Lavers spent 5 years at M&G Real Estate, a global real estate investment manager, from 2014 to 2019. As a Manager, she provided financial oversight for the monthly-priced European property fund, UK Residential Property Fund, and UK Property Fund. Prior to this, Sally spent 4 years at KPMG UK, a global professional services firm, from 2010 to 2014. She was responsible for the audit of real estate clients.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management Studies from the University of Nottingham and Boston University. She is a Chartered Accountant of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Keith Law is Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel at DFI. He also acts as Head of Compliance and serves on the management committee of DFI. He has 16 years of experience in both industry and with an international law firm. Keith has extensive experience of real estate transactions and extensive cross border expertise.

Prior to joining DFI, Keith spent 12 years at Norton Rose Fulbright, a leading global law firm, from 2007 to 2019. Keith practiced as a corporate M&A lawyer focused on the real estate, infrastructure and energy sectors. While at Norton Rose Fulbright, Keith advised DFI on several transactions including the Olympia London Exhibition Centre and the Blaekhus student accommodation platform.

He holds a L.L.B Law from the University of Bristol and a postgraduate degree from BPP law school.

Dannielle Lindo is Operations & Marketing Manager at DFI.

Prior to joining DFI, Dannielle spent 1.5 years at Green Street Advisors, from 2016 to 2018. She also worked at a global recruitment firm in Hong Kong.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion and Design from Middlesex University.

Before joining DFI, Iwona spent 5 years at Bayport Management Ltd, a leading provider of financial solutions across Africa and Latin America.  Prior to this, she spent many years working within creative industries of Design, Photography and Fashion.

Iwona studied Business at the Maritime Academy in Gdynia\Poland and gained a Diploma in PR, Marketing & Communications from the London School of Public Relations.

Prior to joining DFI, Estefania collaborated on various research projects with independent artists and scholars. She also worked as a freelance translator and proofreader for environmental NGOs in London.

Estefania holds a BA in International Business Management from the Catholic University of Guayaquil and a Research Master in Anthropology and Intangible Heritage from a consortium of 4 universities: Roehampton University, Université Clermont Auvergne, University of Szeged, and the Norwegian University of Technology and Science NTNU.

Oliver Gardiner is a Development Director at DFI. He has 19 years of industry experience as a real estate developer and has delivered in excess of 3.5 million square feet of commercial and mixed-use developments across London and the UK.

Prior to joining DFI in 2019, Oliver spent 3 years at Mace Group, a leading international construction company, as Development Director in its Development business. He led the Westferry Printworks project, a planned 1,500 residential unit development on the Isle of Dogs in East London. He was also responsible for the planning and delivery of 1,900 purpose built student accommodation beds in Cardiff, Exeter and Sheffield. Prior to Mace Group, Oliver spent 14 years at LandSec, the FTSE 100 listed REIT, latterly as Head of Development for its London portfolio. Oliver was responsible for several of the Group’s central London developments including leading on the regeneration of the company’s assets in Victoria, a 22 acre, 2 million square foot masterplan of offices, retail and residential.

He is an FRICS qualified Chartered Surveyor and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Land Economics from Sheffield Hallam University.

Magdalena Pujdak is a Capital Markets Director at DFI. She has over 12 years of industry experience in real estate investing and capital raising. Over her career, Lena was involved in over €2 billion of real estate transactions and has extensive cross border expertise.

Prior to joining DFI, Lena worked at Greystar, a global investment manager specialising in the rental housing sector, where she was responsible for servicing investors in Greystar-managed joint venture vehicles. From 2013 to 2018, she worked as an Investments Director at Tristan Capital Partners, a leading European private equity firm where she focused on deal origination and execution across opportunistic, value-add, and core-plus strategies across Europe. Lena’s previous experience includes investments and asset management at Mountgrange Investment Management / Clearbell Capital, a UK-focused real estate private equity firm from 2009 to 2013. She started her career in the international valuations business of CBRE.

She holds a German equivalent of Master in Business from the Europa University Frankfurt.

Zoe Shan is a Capital Markets Associate at DFI.  She has over 3 years of experience.  Previously, Zoe worked at MARK (formerly Meyer Bergman), where she was responsible for capital raising and investor relations across all asset classes.  She started her career with Evercore, advising on GP and LP led secondaries transactions with the Private Capital Advisory team.

Zoe graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania.