Ed Siskind, a former Goldman Sachs executive who built a €14 billion real‑estate platform, will chair the Urban Land Institute’s European division starting 1 July 2026, taking over from Anne Kavanagh for a two‑year term.
From Goldman to a sovereign‑backed fund
Siskind spent 23 years at Goldman, Sachs & Co, overseeing large‑scale property investments in both the United Kingdom and the United States. He led the firm’s Real Estate Principal Investment area globally and co‑headed the European Merchant Bank unit. In 2014 he left the bank to launch Cale Street Partners, a real‑estate investment and finance firm created with the Kuwait Investment Office, the London arm of the Kuwaiti sovereign‑wealth fund.
Since its inception, the firm has raised substantial capital, deploying resources across ten European countries. Its investors include sovereign wealth entities, pension funds and other institutional players seeking exposure to the continent’s property market. The growth reflects a broader trend of Gulf‑backed capital seeking stable, long‑term assets in Europe.
New leadership at ULI Europe
ULI, a nonprofit that provides research and education on the built environment, counts about 5,500 members in its European network and 48,000 members worldwide. The institute’s governance includes a Global Chair, currently Franz F. Colloredo‑Mansfeld, who welcomed Siskind’s appointment, saying the new chair will “build upon the strong legacy” of his predecessor.
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Anne Kavanagh, who steps down after a tenure marked by industry turbulence, noted that ULI has adapted its structure to meet members’ needs amid uncertainty. Siskind, a ULI member since 2011, said his priorities will focus on three areas: supporting the newly appointed ULI Europe CEO Simon Durkin, reinforcing the institute’s role as a platform for sharing best practice, and nurturing the next generation of built‑environment talent.
“Talent, and supporting Europe’s next generation of built environment leaders, is another important area,” he said, adding that he intends to “leverage our industry’s senior leaders in attracting new talent.”
While the institute’s mission remains education‑centric, the appointment hints at a deeper alignment between sovereign investors and the policy‑shaping body that influences European development. This link could affect how capital is allocated to projects ranging from affordable housing to large‑scale commercial complexes.
From a broader perspective, the move highlights the growing influence of non‑Western capital in shaping European urban policy. As sovereign funds from the Gulf region increase their footprints, institutions like ULI may become conduits for aligning investment strategies with local planning goals. Such coordination could smooth the path for large‑scale projects that require both financing and policy support.
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Critics argue that close ties risk blurring the line between independent research and investor interests. However, ULI’s governance structure, which includes a Global Governing Trustee board and a Europe Executive Committee, is designed to preserve independence while facilitating dialogue among stakeholders.
Europe’s property market faces challenges, including tighter financing conditions and shifting demand patterns after the pandemic. Observers will watch how ULI Europe responds under Siskind’s leadership, seeking clues about the future direction of institutional capital in the region.
The transition marks a notable shift for an organization that has long served as a bridge between developers, investors, and policymakers. Whether the new chair’s experience in high‑stakes finance translates into measurable impact for ULI members remains to be seen, but the alignment of a Gulf‑backed fund founder with the institute’s leadership adds a new layer to the conversation about Europe’s built environment.
