Craig Newman

Current role at Charter Hall: 

Head of Institutional Client Services

Time at Charter Hall:

2010-2017, 2025+

What career achievement are you most proud of?

Having been able to work across a variety of roles from asset management, funds management, and now investor relations at both a domestic and international level, which goes to the benefit of working both in an industry which provide so many career options, but also with the benefit of having worked at leading property groups including Macquarie and Blackstone and now back to Charter Hall which is the dominant Australian property group. 

What is the most valuable lesson you learnt during your time at Charter Hall?

Relationships are critically important...but like plants, need to be looked after. In a similar vein the adage that "people like doing business with people they like" has been something that has struck true with me over my career.

Who would sit around the table at your ideal dinner party?

What are you currently working on that has you excited?

Bringing in new investors – particularly international groups who have not invested in Australia – into the Charter Hall funds. After the past few years with challenging conditions for real estate generally, we now have an environment where all sectors should be in a growth phase, and with broader global volatility helping direct capital to Australia which is viewed as a very stable and transparent market. Charter Hall Convenience Retail Fund (CCRF) is a great example of a new product which has clearly resonated with investors, by offering access to a sector that has been difficult to access at scale. 

Our Alumni is founded on the idea of ‘Connection for life’ – how did your ongoing ties to Charter Hall make returning feel like the natural next step?

The property industry in Australia is relatively small and with property being very much a "people business" you do stay in touch with your former colleagues, so coming back felt very comfortable. The culture, being very much "hands on, can do" is the same, and being in the same building as when I left probably added to the comfort factor. Although "comfort" is a relative term. Performance (or more accurately out-performance) is as much a focus as when I left the business for my Blackstone secondment.         

Returning to Charter Hall, what’s one insight you’ve gained that’s helped you approach familiar terrain with fresh energy?

Activity creates opportunity. In the time since I have been away from Charter Hall, the Group's FUM has tripled, with new funds or partnerships created across existing and new sectors, which has led to the expansion of the broader team and service offering. There is still so much potential for continued growth as new opportunities are identified and executed through the network effect created by the portfolio/funds, tenants and investors.  

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