Enterprise Land appoints Paul Rutte to lead expansion into the Netherlands as European growth accelerates

Enterprise Land, a UK and European real estate investment company founded by Andrew Thornton, has appointed development veteran Paul Rutte to spearhead its expansion into the Netherlands.

Rutte, who has been appointed a director of Enterprise Land, brings extensive experience of property development across the Netherlands and internationally. He has spent his career driving large and complex projects at major organisations, including Schiphol airport, the Dutch railways, MAB and Amvest.

His initial focus will be on the roll out of Casa, the new student accommodation platform launched by Enterprise Land and Capital Assured, that is aiming to establish a new benchmark for student living in Europe. Enterprise Land and Capital Assured will initially target cities in six European countries, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, France and the Netherlands, where there are strong academic traditions, international student populations and favourable market dynamics. They are underwriting an initial pipeline of development projects, representing €500 million of investment.

Rutte will be based at Enterprise Land’s new Amsterdam office, which is its third in Europe with London and Zurich. The office at Gustav Mahlerplein 2 was designed by internationally renowned architectural firm, Rafael Viñoly Architects, which is fitting, given that the firm is working with Enterprise Land and Capital Assured on the design of the Casa accommodation.

Rutte, who obtained a master’s in real estate from the University of Amsterdam, was previously project director, terminal and landside, at Royal Schiphol Group, responsible for the development and realisation of the station project and the new terminal with a total investment of €2 billion. He is a member of the supervisory boards of MaasWonen, a housing corporation in Rotterdam and de Zorgboog, a healthcare institution, and prior to joining Enterprise Land was a member of the supervisory boards de Alliantie, the second largest company in the Netherlands.  He is also a member of the advisory board of Chemelot Research Facilities and of the real estate investment board of the University of Utrecht, overseeing a real estate investment programme of more than €1 billion.

Andrew Thornton, founder and chief executive of Enterprise Land, said:

“Paul is one of the most respected development leaders in the Netherlands, with an exceptional track record of delivering major projects across infrastructure, housing and mixed-use. His appointment marks a significant step in our European growth strategy, and we’re thrilled to welcome him as we roll out Casa and deepen our on-the-ground presence in key markets across the continent”.