Placefirst, the UK single-family rental housing developer and operator backed by Matter Real Estate, has appointed Lee McLean as Chief Executive Officer, effective 3 August 2026.
McLean joins from global platform Campus Living Villages, where he served as UK CEO for nearly eight years, overseeing a portfolio of more than 10,300 student beds. He brings more than 25 years’ experience scaling operational real estate businesses across the UK and international markets.
He succeeds David Mawson, who transitioned to Executive Chair in February 2026 as part of his planned retirement.
McLean will lead Placefirst’s next phase of growth, overseeing a portfolio of more than 2,300 homes in operation and advancing its national expansion strategy. The platform currently has 1,300 homes under construction and a further 600 currently in the pipeline, with a long-term target of 10,000 homes.
Matter Real Estate acquired a majority stake in Placefirst in 2016, when the platform comprised 73 units. Today, Matter manages approximately €1bn of assets across more than 10,000 residential units in the UK and continental Europe.
Lee McLean, CEO of Placefirst, said: “Placefirst has built a clear identity in single-family rental, with a portfolio and delivery model that stands out in the UK market. The opportunity now is to scale that platform further, expanding partnerships and continuing to grow in undersupplied regions. I’m looking forward to building on its strong foundations and working with the team.”
David Mawson, Executive Chair of Placefirst, said: “It has been a privilege to lead Placefirst over the past few years and to see the platform grow to where it is today. I am pleased to be handing over to Lee at such an important stage in its development. He brings the right experience to lead the business forward, and I am looking forward to working closely with him as the business continues to expand.”
David Christie, CEO of Matter Real Estate, added: “Lee’s appointment represents a natural next step in Placefirst’s development as a scaled SFR platform. His experience driving growth in operational residential sectors will be key as we continue to expand the portfolio. I would also like to thank David Mawson for his leadership in building Placefirst into the platform it is today, and we’re pleased he will remain closely involved as Executive Chair.”