Graeme Alfille-Cook, Investment Debt Specialist for DAF I.C.
Graeme is a highly experienced financier and business leader. Having enjoyed a successful City based career with Lloyds Bank until 2018, he subsequently worked in roles with Apex Airspace and Urban Exposure. He is very well connected, has impact and gravitas, is confident and articulate and able to give valuable specialist input and advice. Adroitly able to manage stakeholder relationship he has strong leadership and team building skills. He possesses extensive knowledge of real estate debt financing structures having seen both from the operator and financier’s perspectives. To sum up his recent career:
- His final role at Lloyds was Managing Director of the Bank’s market leading Real Estate Development business. He had many appointments within Lloyds and developed an extensive skill set enabling him to operate effectively in the senior echelons of the Bank. Working with many high profile real estate players at “C” suite level, he delivered mutually beneficial client centric business outcomes. Developing and implementing business strategy, delivering business results, risk management, marketing, people management and team building are areas of strength.
- After leaving Lloyds in 2018 he worked with Apex Airspace, an innovative SME real estate developer. Reporting to Apex’s CEO, he structured transformational financing solutions helping Apex achieve a firm financial footing. He also improved its operating platform influencing strategy, helping build the team, representing Apex to the market and managing stakeholder relations, for example with the GLA and Homes England.
- More recently he was Chief Strategy Officer for Urban Exposure plc, a specialist development finance provider. Initially he revised and launched Urban’s asset and product strategy, then pivoted to new business origination. Graeme reported directly into the CEO and sat on Urban’s Executive and Credit Committees.
- Since leaving Urban, he has focused on advisory work for example a recent £400m City Tower financing. He is presently providing strategic advice and financial structuring services to a London focused developer (£1bn of projects in train building on the £2.5bn delivered to date) whilst also advising debt funds on investment strategy.
To give more insight, during his career at Lloyds Graeme built and managed a number of market leading businesses. He held leadership and senior client facing roles being closely involved in risk and portfolio management activities. His back book of transactions, for example a £195m financing for Cain International’s Islington Square development, are testament to his ability to lead teams to deliver complex projects and client solutions. Before promotion to Managing Director, as a Relationship Director, Graeme covered major real estate relationships such as Peel, British Land and Hammerson. His relationships had myriad complex financing requirements for which he delivered innovative financing solutions, such as Canary Wharf’s £382m Shell Centre development financing.
Formally, as Head of Liquidity Structures, he was active in the structured credit and asset backed securitisation markets. Having developed a business growth strategy, he led his team which originated and managed c. £6bn of complex transactions. These included commitments of £600m to BAA’s 2008 £10bn Whole Business Securitisation, and c. £620m to Telereal’s £3.6bn financing as well as numerous CMBS deals. The Liquidity Structures business became the “go to” market leader under his leadership.
Before working in structured credit, he was a corporate coverage banker managing Lloyds’ major clients in the FMCG sector. Relationships included many household names such as Tate & Lyle, Cadbury’s and Bacardi. Exposure to these clients gave him a strong appreciation of corporate operations and knowledge of the full spectrum of financial instruments. Having completed his graduate training his junior roles included Associate level appointments in Real Estate and Risk. Graeme joined Lloyds from the University of Exeter where he obtained a BA.Hons in Economic and Political Development.
His personal interests are varied. A qualified rugby coach, he sits on the Executive Committee of Wasps FC having been Chair of the Minis and Youth sections. He is now responsible for strategy and special projects. He is married with two children at University. He enjoys travel, music, the arts and sports. Sailing is an emerging passion. Having completed two ocean races, he is doing his day skipper training and plans to take part in the 2021 Fastnet race.
