Knight Frank appoints CEO to investment management team

Knight Frank Investment Management (IM) has appointed Matthew McDonald as chief executive, replacing the outgoing Kevin Aitchison who is departing for Savills.

McDonald has been a member of the firm’s board since 2015 and was responsible for the business’s product division.

He has mainly focused on Knight Frank IM’s Long Income Property Unit Trust, an investment vehicle with a net asset value of around £900m.

McDonald has previously held roles at Dorrington Properties, ING Real Estate Investment Management, and CBRE Investment Management.

His appointment follows last week’s announcement that Kevin Aitchison will move to Savills to take on the newly-created role of managing director of equity investments for UK & Europe. His arrival at Savills was announced alongside the retirement of deputy chief executive and global chief investment officer Kiran Patel, who was with Savills for 12 years.

Knight Frank IM manages assets worth over £3.4bn.