ASK promotes new head of origination

Specialist property lender ASK Partners has promoted Joe Freedman to head of origination as the business builds on a strong start to 2025 and growing demand from private client investors.

Joe takes over from Elliot Blatt, who leaves after eight years to launch his own venture. 

Since joining ASK in 2021, Joe has played a key role in sourcing and delivering deals across multiple asset classes and capital structures.

He said: “I’m thrilled to be leading the origination team at such a pivotal time, as we continue to identify high-quality real estate lending opportunities across diverse UK sectors which provide attractive investment opportunities for our private clients. 

“We have built a reputation as a trusted partner and together with my team I will be continuing to work closely with clients to create bespoke and flexible financing strategies in line with achieving their business goals.”

In recent months, ASK has closed around £200 million of transactions, with Joe leading over half of that total. 

His deals include a development exit loan, an office-to-residential conversion and a pre-development bridge facility.

Joe previously worked at Lambert Smith Hampton across property finance, investment and asset management.

Daniel Austin, chief executive and co-founder at ASK Partners, added: “Joe has been a key part of our origination team in recent years; his promotion is part of our strategy to position ourselves for growth. 

“There is increasing appetite for real estate from private capital and we are starting to see an uptick in real estate transaction volumes in the UK with interesting new opportunities in data centres and self-storage bolstered by strong fundamentals in the living sector and an office market recovery. 

“Overall, the market still remains tricky to read with the complex nature of global politics, but Joe has proven experience and success in challenging market conditions and complex transactions; his broad expertise will be invaluable as we continue to grow and strengthen ASK as a leading real estate lender in the UK.  

“We would also like to thank Elliot for his contribution over the years and wish him every success as he embarks on his new venture.”

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