27 March 2024 – Fusion Group, one of the largest privately-owned student accommodation developers and operators in the UK, has appointed Laura Kurt as its first ever Commercial Director as it continues to evolve as one of the UK’s leading specialists in residential rental real estate.
In the board-level position, Laura will be responsible for developing Fusion’s product offering, including the operations and asset management of its developments. As part of this, Laura will oversee Fusion’s brand strategy – focused on design for positive living – and embed this emphasis on wellbeing and resident experience into the design, development, and day-to-day operations of Fusion-branded schemes. Laura will continue to lead on the social sustainability strategy at Fusion, as well as manage marketing and lettings.
Laura has worked with Fusion Group since February 2019, heading up its marketing efforts and leading on initiatives such as the development of its ESG strategy; the creation a supplier framework that focuses on wellbeing and sustainability; engagement with local authorities to change the perception of students; as well as charity campaigns such as its Hope Not Hampers endeavour from 2023. Laura has previously advised businesses on strategic positioning via the digital marketing consultancy, Loaded Hype, she co-founded, as well as through a variety of brand, marketing and communications roles for companies including Vita Student and property auctioneers Pugh and Company.
Laura joins Fusion’s senior leadership team, led by co-founders and industry veterans Nigel Henry and Warren Rosenberg, which also includes Adam Cohen (Group Managing Director), Paul Miles (Construction Director), Gideon Osen (Group Finance Director), and Ben Henry (Acquisitions Director).
Fusion Group was founded in 2005, and acquired its first site for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) in 2010 in Bristol. Since then, Fusion has designed, delivered, operated and successfully exited more than 5,000 beds across 11 high-quality schemes. As of February 2024, it has a pipeline worth £2.2 billion in gross development value, which will deliver close to 10,000 beds in 12 sites across the UK, and has worked with some of the biggest names in UK real estate including Related Argent, Lone Star Funds, and Cain International.
Fusion is currently on-site with five developments in Brent Cross, Liverpool, Nottingham, Manchester, and Birmingham, with the first expected to be operational and welcoming students in time for the 25/26 academic year.
Laura Kurt, Commercial Director at Fusion Group, said: “While every Fusion development is unique, taking on responsibility for ensuring each offers a uniformly brilliant experience is hugely exciting. Vindicated by the pandemic, Fusion’s focus on wellbeing and the resident experience means we’re very well placed to take advantage of the renewed investor focus on living real estate and societal recognition of the need for new homes in a mix of tenures. This new role will help drive that forward and ensure that not only our residents, but also our stakeholders, have an exceptional experience with us.”
Nigel Henry, co-founder of Fusion Group, said: “Laura is an outstanding ambassador for Fusion: someone who dives into every task, identifies ways to tackle challenges we haven’t yet encountered and prepare to take on challenges a mile down the track, and does so with energy and enthusiasm. We see the UK’s living sector as rife with opportunities for a nimble, privately owned and deeply experienced business-like Fusion, and Laura’s appointment to build our product offering is part of our long-term plan to ensure we can sustainably take advantage of said opportunities and grow even further in a way that enables even more people to enjoy living the Fusion experience.”
