Key Takeaways
- • M&G Real Estate appoints Duncan Batty as head of real estate finance, effective November 2, 2026, reporting to Martin Towns, global head of M&G Real Estate.
- • Batty returns to M&G after a 12-year tenure as co-head of real estate finance, where he built and scaled the platform before departing in June 2024.
- • He most recently served as head of commercial real estate lending at Revolut, tasked with establishing and developing the fintech's commercial real estate lending business, a role he held for approximately 18 months.
- • Batty brings over two decades of European real estate finance experience, including prior work as a real estate finance lawyer specializing in U.K. and European transactions.
Summary
M&G Real Estate has recruited Duncan Batty to lead its real estate finance function, marking his return to the firm after a brief tenure at fintech lender Revolut. Batty will assume the role effective November 2, 2026, and will report directly to Martin Towns, global head of M&G Real Estate. The appointment represents a strategic move to reinforce M&G's real estate debt capabilities with a leader who previously built the division.
Batty's career trajectory reflects deep expertise in European real estate finance across both institutional and legal perspectives. He originally joined M&G's real estate finance platform in 2021 as co-head alongside Dan Riches, taking over the leadership role from founder John Barakat. During his three-year tenure through June 2024, Batty was responsible for all aspects of the real estate finance team and portfolio management. He subsequently moved to Revolut in January 2025, where he was tasked with establishing and scaling the fintech's commercial real estate lending business. Prior to his initial engagement with M&G, Batty qualified as a solicitor in 2006 and practiced real estate finance law at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, advising lenders and borrowers on a broad range of U.K. and European transactions.
The appointment underscores M&G's commitment to strengthening its real estate debt platform at a time when European real estate finance remains a focal point for institutional capital. Batty's familiarity with M&G's infrastructure, combined with his recent hands-on experience launching and scaling commercial real estate lending at a fintech, positions him to drive growth and innovation within the division's lending strategy and portfolio management.
Batty's career trajectory reflects deep expertise in European real estate finance across both institutional and legal perspectives. He originally joined M&G's real estate finance platform in 2021 as co-head alongside Dan Riches, taking over the leadership role from founder John Barakat. During his three-year tenure through June 2024, Batty was responsible for all aspects of the real estate finance team and portfolio management. He subsequently moved to Revolut in January 2025, where he was tasked with establishing and scaling the fintech's commercial real estate lending business. Prior to his initial engagement with M&G, Batty qualified as a solicitor in 2006 and practiced real estate finance law at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, advising lenders and borrowers on a broad range of U.K. and European transactions.
The appointment underscores M&G's commitment to strengthening its real estate debt platform at a time when European real estate finance remains a focal point for institutional capital. Batty's familiarity with M&G's infrastructure, combined with his recent hands-on experience launching and scaling commercial real estate lending at a fintech, positions him to drive growth and innovation within the division's lending strategy and portfolio management.
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