Who We Are

Andrew is a founding partner of Civitas and has been in the social housing and social infrastructure sectors for more than 25 years, including being part of the team that established the housing investment company FAH. He was the adviser to and founder of The PFI Infrastructure Co, which in 2004 became the first publicly traded company in London dedicated to investment in social infrastructure. Andrew has worked in a senior capacity in the financial sector for over 30 years. He was previously Co-Head of Capital Markets at Société Générale in London. He has also been actively engaged in other property activities in the UK and internationally. He holds a BSc in Geography from Queen Mary University of London and is a Chartered Accountant.

Tom is a founding partner of Civitas and has been involved in real estate fund management and investment for over 25 years, having originated, underwritten, financed and asset-managed a wide range of properties within the UK and internationally through both equity and debt investment. He was part of the team that established the housing investment company FAH and is a director and co-founder of Beaufort Capital Management, a lender to the UK real estate development market. Tom was formerly a solicitor at Norton Rose Fulbright, specialising in corporate finance and investment funds. He holds an LLB from Queen Mary University of London.

Vivienne has 20 years experience within the healthcare sector, including deep expertise in the appraisal and structuring of healthcare transactions. She was previously a senior member of the award-winning Deloitte UK Healthcare M&A team where she advised leading sector operators and investors on high profile deals. Vivienne graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from the University of Port Elizabeth and is a Chartered Accountant (South Africa).

Eleanor has over 15 years experience in real estate management, investment development and finance. She has a deep understanding of real estate, legal structuring, and sector-specific dynamics and has led on complex transactions across the living and healthcare sectors. Prior to joining Civitas in 2018, Eleanor worked at CMS Cameron McKenna for over 10 years, where she specialised in commercial real estate. Her career also includes time at Lloyds Banking Group in the commercial real estate finance team, and at The Wellcome Trust, further deepening her expertise in real estate and institutional investment. Eleanor graduated from the University of Cambridge with an MA in History and is a qualified solicitor.

Emma joined Civitas in 2024 as an Associate Director in the Investor Relations team, responsible for supporting on fund raising activities. Prior to joining Civitas, Emma previously worked in the Investor Relations team at Eurazeo and was responsible for Real Assets capital raising initiatives. She has also held positions at Benson Elliot in a similar capacity, and Brockton Everlast in the marketing team. Emma graduated from the University of Exeter with BA in History and Politics.

Andrew has over 30 years’ experience in senior finance roles. Prior to Civitas he was at Canary Wharf Group - London’s largest real estate development, construction and property management group where he was senior financial lead across the entire life cycle of a wide range of developments gaining extensive experience in the financial and reporting challenges faced by a developer, main contractor, property and asset manager on numerous commercial and residential schemes. He holds a BSc (Econ) Economics from the London School of Economics and is a Member of the British Property Federation’s Technical Accounting Committee. Andrew is a Qualified accountant.

Claire has over 20 years experience across the real estate and property development sectors, including housebuilding and real estate consulting. Prior to joining Civitas, Claire was responsible for the financial control function within a UK housebuilder, leading on financial reporting, audit, group forecasts and performance management. Previously, Claire worked within fund accounting at Savills Investment Management, AEW Europe and Jones Lang Lasalle. She is a Chartered Accountant.

Tom began his career as a Housing Project Officer with Worcestershire County Council with responsibility for the commissioning of the type of property that is acquired by Civitas. In this role he was responsible for the oversight regarding the delivery of schemes to ensure they met the needs of residents within the care system. Tom then became the Project Manager – New Build Development and then Group Property Manager for a leading national specialist care provider. Tom is a well-known figure within the healthcare-based housing sector in the UK, and his breadth of experience is drawn upon by Civitas’ housing and care partners. Tom is a Certified Practitioner of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIHCP).

Cynthia has over 20 years compliance experience in the financial services industry, specialising in the sectors of real estate and private equity. Prior to joining Civitas, Cynthia was the Deputy Global Head of Risk and Compliance at Savills Investment Management, a real estate investment manager, and held the SMF16 – Compliance Oversight function for its two UK regulated entities. Prior to Savills Investment Management, Cynthia was the Head of UK Compliance for Hudson Advisors and Lone Star. During her compliance career, Cynthia has gained extensive regulatory knowledge and expertise in the creation, implementation and enhancement of global risk and compliance control frameworks. Cynthia is a fellow member of the International Compliance Association.

Tayo worked with the Founding Partners at FAH and joined Civitas in September 2019. Tayo has over 30 years experience in the origination, development and asset management of properties within the social affordable housing sector with a particular focus on the social and environmental impact that can be delivered. Previously he was an Executive Director at Housing 21. Tayo holds a BSc (Hons) and MSc in Architecture, an MSc in Construction Management, and an MBA. In 2023 Tayo earned a doctoral degree from Cranfield University for his thesis exploring the potential deployment of private funds through impact investing to promote circular economy principles and support the UNSDGs.

The Rt Hon Sir Brandon Lewis CBE was the Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth in Norfolk from 2010 to 2024.

As a Member of the British Government, he held a number of Ministerial and Secretary of State positions, most recently, until October 2022, as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor. Prior to that, Brandon was the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Prior to these roles, his Cabinet position was as Minister Without Portfolio annd Chairman of hte Conservative Party, he has also been Minister of State at the Home Office, with responsibility for national security and deputy for Brexit preparations. He has also served as Minister of State for Housing & Planning and Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service.

He received a Knighthood in the Kings Birthday Honours List in June 2023, following his appointment as a Privy Councillor and a Commander of the British Empire.

Away from Parliament, Brandon originally qualified as a barrister and has a BSc Economics and LLB Hons (Law) from the University of Buckingham and an LLM in Commercial Law from King’s College London. Married with two children, Brandon relaxes in his limited free time by enjoying a variety of sports with a focus on cycling, reading, his dog and travel. Always ready to take a personal challenge he completed the London Marathon in 2005 and 2008 and took up triathlon in 2011. During the 2020 Covid Lockdown Brandon completed a Castle Series virtual half ironman event (21.1km run, 90km bike, 10km run) and raised almost £20,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and most recently completed the Maratona Bike ride in-the Italian Dolomites in 2026.

Mark is a highly experienced real estate professional with an extensive career in European Residential Real Estate having spent almost 30 years as a Senior Executive with Vonovia. In this time he achieved a number of major successes including leading the M&A team on Vonovia's acquisition led expansion in Germany, Sweden and Austria. He also headed the IPO and refinancing teams when the business was listed in 2013. Mark's background is as a Chartered Accountant having qualified with KPMG in Ireland.