Tidman will lead operations across Placefirst's portfolio of more than 2,300 homes, with responsibility for driving resident experience, occupancy and commercial performance. A key focus will be developing the operational structure to support Placefirst’s growth, with 1,300 homes under construction, a further 600 in the pipeline and a long-term target of 10,000 homes.
In his new role, Tidman will act as a central touchpoint between Placefirst's customer-facing teams and its development, investment and asset management functions.
Tidman joins Placefirst from one of the largest student accommodation providers in the UK, iQ Student Accommodation, where he served as Head of Site Operations for over eight years, overseeing the operations of 85 sites in 29 locations, with a total of 35,000 beds. He has more than 24 years of experience leading operations for organisations across the UK.
This announcement comes after Placefirst’s recent appointment of Lee McLean as its new CEO, who joined the business on 3rd August.
Jez Tidman, Operations Director of Placefirst, said: “What attracted me to Placefirst is the size of the opportunity both in the business and the wider single-family rental sector. I’m joining Placefirst at a pivotal stage in its growth, and my focus will be making sure our operations are ready to scale with it. My starting point will be people and ensuring that our residents enjoy living in their Placefirst home for the long-term.”
Anna Hwang, Chief Investment Officer of Placefirst, said: “Jez joins us at an important stage in Placefirst's development. Operational excellence is crucial in single-family housing, and his experience professionalising operations and raising standards in student accommodation will be valuable as we grow our portfolio. His people-first approach also reflects our values, and we're delighted to welcome him to the team.”