0131 510 0413
Castle Investment Team
Ian Russell (57) was born in Edinburgh, attended Merchiston Castle School and graduated from Edinburgh University with a BSc in Economics and Accountancy. After graduating in 1974, Ian worked his way up to Chief Financial Officer with the transport and distribution firm his father started in the 1930s.
In 1984 he sold the business to Transport Development Group, and diversified into property development. He then established RD Investments, an Edinburgh-based property partnership with residential and industrial interests, but in 1997 he operated his business interests from his offshore base in Dubai.
In 2001 he set-up Caledonian Management (Dubai) Limited to take advantage of potential fund opportunities that were to arise in the emerging Middle Eastern property market. He operated the Caledonian fund management companies from offices within the prestigious Dubai International Financial Centre.
ventolin
He was the driving force behind the expansion of the Caledonian Group and was responsible for brokering a unique Middle Eastern alliance with Al Mazaya Holdings who are listed on both Kuwait and Dubai financial markets. In 2008, he was appointed CEO of Mazaya Investments Ltd, a DFSA regulated fund management company, listed in both the Kuwait and Dubai financial markets. In 2010 he returned to the UK to seek further business opportunities, and is confident that strategic investment in the Orlando residential market presents one of the best global opportunities currently available in a sophisticated and totally transparent jurisdiction.
After selling England’s largest independently owner ‘Florida’ specialist travel agency in 2000 to a world renowned tour operator David diversified, using his vast knowledge and experience of Florida, into the real estate and mortgage industry.
Since 2000, David has sold more than $50 million dollars’ worth of real estate to an impressive portfolio of clients including hedge funds, European agencies, international soccer stars, NBA and NFL players. When the market turned in late 2007, David announced his move into the Real Estate Owned (“REO”) foreclosure market and soon became one of Orlando’s leading REO specialists with successful direct relationships with a number of major banks.
In 2010 David joined forces with Donald Paterson and Ian Russell to investigate opportunities in the Florida real estate market. David will head up the state side of the operation. A main function of his role will be to continue negotiations with existing bank connections whilst looking to open up new opportunities..
Robin Duff (39) was educated at The Glasgow Academy and Glasgow University (MA Politics and Scottish History). He has a wealth of international business experience with particular knowledge of the American property market, both through extensive family connections and having conducted business there. After emigrating in 1995, he studied at Seattle Pacific University before working as an marketing manager for Seattle-based Japanese Timber-frame housing exporter MC International.
In 1999, Robin moved to Dubai to work as a Business Editor for media operation ITP, before being recruited as Account Director for corporate communications giant Burson-Marsteller, conducting media relations for a number of major IT and property organisations, including Microsoft, Samsung and real estate venture Dubai Sports City.
In 2006, he took up the role of Director of Business Development at Glasgow-based Cairn Limited, a specialist in student accommodation investment. His management of Cairn's sales team resulted in a near doubling of the company's targets, during which time he also delivered a full corporate rebrand and led the company's expansion into the north of England.
In 2009, due to his growing list of high net-worth contacts throughout the world of sport and business, Robin established Quest Property Consultancy, an agency dedicated to sourcing high-yield property investment deals both in the UK and the USA. The company has a particular focus on the Floridian real estate marketplace and has successfully directed a number of its UK-based clients to the State's excellent residential investment opportunities over the last year.