William van Cutsem

Investment Director

William is a co-founder and Investment Director for Pigeon. He is Chairman of the Investment Committee and leads the investment activity for both commercial and residential sectors. He works closely with the Pigeon teams to evaluate opportunities to find strong returns for the risks taken. He helps manage the Pigeon Group and is particularly involved in the strategic growth of the business.

William is a Chartered Surveyor and previously worked in the Investment Team at Savills.

William Stanton

Founding Director

William is a Founding Director of Pigeon and leads the strategic direction and the company’s business development. He works with the Commercial, Land Promotion and Funding teams at Pigeon.

William was formerly a Board Member of Savills (L&P) Plc, and during his 30-year career has gained extensive knowledge and experience of the property market. He is a founding director of Cambridge Power, one of the largest battery storage companies in the UK.

William is a Chartered Surveyor, a member of the CLA and former Director of the Suffolk Development Agency. He enjoys a range of sports when the seasons allow, including tennis, cricket, golf, skiing, and running the family farm.

Ben Guest

Director - Investment

Ben is responsible for the acquisition, management and exit strategy for Pigeon’s commercial investment properties, whilst setting the business plan that will drive the returns for all stakeholders.

Ben excels at making things happen and enjoys working with people, whether it is colleagues, consultants, tenants, or our investors. He believes that property is a people business and Pigeon is good at recognising this.

He joined Pigeon in 2014 having started his career at Savills as a graduate before working at RBS and Morston Assets. Ben is a Chartered Surveyor and a member of the Investment Property Forum.

Away from work, Ben likes to keep fit and spend time with his family.

James Buxton

Executive Chairman

James Buxton is Chairman of Pigeon and leads the Land Promotion team. He brings experience, integrity and many years of experience in the property industry, having advised landowners, developers, and institutions on all aspects of property development and promotion.

James joined Pigeon in 2010 having spent most of his career at Bidwells, including ten years as Senior Partner. James is a Chartered Surveyor and a Fellow of RICS.

James enjoys collecting old cars, field sports, and a spot of painting.

William Stanton

Founding Director

William is a Founding Director of Pigeon and leads the strategic direction and the company’s business development. He works with the Commercial, Land Promotion and Funding teams at Pigeon.

William was formerly a Board Member of Savills (L&P) Plc, and during his 30-year career has gained extensive knowledge and experience of the property market. He is a founding director of Cambridge Power, one of the largest battery storage companies in the UK.

William is a Chartered Surveyor, a member of the CLA and former Director of the Suffolk Development Agency. He enjoys a range of sports when the seasons allow, including tennis, cricket, golf, skiing, and running the family farm.

Richard Stanton

Founding Director

Richard co-founded Pigeon, he is an Executive Director and is Chairman of Cambridge Power. Prior to founding Pigeon, he worked in London and Australia to help build a global fintech business.

He is the Managing Partner of a Norfolk-based farming business and is a Norfolk Ambassador for the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital.

William van Cutsem

Investment Director

William is a co-founder and Investment Director for Pigeon. He is Chairman of the Investment Committee and leads the investment activity for both commercial and residential sectors. He works closely with the Pigeon teams to evaluate opportunities to find strong returns for the risks taken. He helps manage the Pigeon Group and is particularly involved in the strategic growth of the business.

William is a Chartered Surveyor and previously worked in the Investment Team at Savills.

Ian Plumb

Finance Director

Ian’s role as Finance Director involves strategic planning for Pigeon, devising and implementing new corporate structures, leading the corporate function for the company, and overall management of the Finance team.

Ian qualified as a Chartered Accountant at Baker Tilly, before working in a variety of finance and corporate finance roles at Greene King, Acteon, and Willis Towers Watson. He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Accountants.

Ian enjoys playing golf and spending time with his young family.

Simon Butler-Finbow

Group Planning Director

Simon is Group Planning Director for Pigeon and oversees the company’s portfolio. He heads the Planning and Design Department, leads on the master planning and delivery of major projects, and supports the company’s business development.

Simon joined Pigeon in 2012 having previously worked in local government before holding senior positions in two of the country’s largest housebuilders and being on the Board of a regional property company. His extensive knowledge and experience mean he is well-placed to provide strategic advice and support across all planning and development matters.

Simon is a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, an Associate Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects and Eastern Region Chairman of the Home Builders Federation.

Away from Pigeon, Simon enjoys spending time with his family and motorcycling.

Patrick Cooper

Director

Patrick’s role at Pigeon involves talking to current and potential investors and ensuring that they receive both high-quality service and reporting alongside complete discretion. He enjoys finding out the requirements of each individual investor and working with colleagues at Pigeon to develop innovative and rewarding solutions.

Patrick has spent more than 30 years in investment management, working for both large and small clients and focusing on distribution and client management. His broad knowledge of geographic and sector investments helps him to understand how investors at Pigeon view property investments, and how best to assist them.

Away from work Patrick enjoys walking and is starting to plan more and more trips to do so, including longer countryside ones with his wife and dogs.

Ryan Bruty

Director - Technical

Ryan’s role in the Planning and Design Department involves managing the Technical team and a portfolio of Pigeon’s projects from a technical perspective. He is responsible for ensuring that projects are technically robust and deliverable, as well as managing external consultants and delivering technical reports.

Ryan is a civil/infrastructure engineer by trade and has more than 18 years of experience in the design and management of infrastructure on residential and mixed-used schemes.

Prior to Pigeon he worked at one of the UK’s largest house builders but was inspired to move to Pigeon so he could be involved in the early stages of development at such an entrepreneurial company.

Away from work, Ryan can be found spending time with his family, travelling, and attending music festivals (especially Glastonbury). He also runs the occasional marathon!

Ben Guest

Director - Investment

Ben is responsible for the acquisition, management and exit strategy for Pigeon’s commercial investment properties, whilst setting the business plan that will drive the returns for all stakeholders.

Ben excels at making things happen and enjoys working with people, whether it is colleagues, consultants, tenants, or our investors. He believes that property is a people business and Pigeon is good at recognising this.

He joined Pigeon in 2014 having started his career at Savills as a graduate before working at RBS and Morston Assets. Ben is a Chartered Surveyor and a member of the Investment Property Forum.

Away from work, Ben likes to keep fit and spend time with his family.

Hugh French

Director - Development

Hugh is responsible for the acquisition and management strategy for Pigeon’s commercial development business. He joined Pigeon in 2012, attracted by the company’s entrepreneurial spirit, recognising that there was a great opportunity to be part of its growth story.

Hugh is a qualified Chartered Surveyor, and, prior to Pigeon, he worked at various consultancies in London and the Eastern Region.

Away from work, Hugh is usually found playing (and now more regularly watching) sports.

Ed Lowe

Director - Land

Ed joined Pigeon in June 2019 and is primarily responsible for new business within the Land Promotion team. He also manages a number of existing projects and is involved with the business planning and strategy of the land promotion team.

Ed has previously worked for Countryside Properties, Barratt David Wilson, and Gladman where his roles included securing both strategic and immediate opportunities throughout the East and South East of England, and ongoing project management.

Ed also has experience in the financial markets starting his career at Hawksmoor Investment Management. Ed is a qualified Chartered Surveyor.

Away from work, Ed enjoys activities such as hockey, tennis, skiing, and sailing. He particularly enjoys the opportunity to share these experiences with his young family and introduce them to new adventures.

Rob Snowling

Director - Planning

Rob is responsible for the Planning Team and the provision of planning services for all departments within Pigeon. He manages all planning matters relating to the delivery of a portfolio of projects through to the point of disposal or build, ensuring that all members of the Planning Team have the same broad responsibilities regarding their portfolios.

Rob joined Pigeon in 2015, having previously worked for property developer Morston Assets, managing all aspects of Town Planning across a nation-wide portfolio of mixed-use development sites. He started his career at Bidwells, advising landowners and developers across East Anglia.

Rob is an experienced development professional and has been a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute since 2005.

Away from work, Rob can be found spending time with his family, watching rugby, and keeping fit by swimming, cycling and running.

Carl Atkinson

Associate Director

Carl’s role encompasses many aspects of the Land Promotion business, from finding opportunities to managing projects. His primary focus is on the management of various land portfolios and ensuring budgets and timelines are on target.

Prior to Pigeon, Carl worked in the house-building industry for more than 40 years and has been involved in residential land since 1986.

Carl joined Pigeon because he knows many of the Directors and has worked with several of them in the past. He brings with him a different outlook to the land promotion team after having worked on the other end of the process.

Away from work Carl can be found spending time up on the Norfolk Coast, cooking, and mucking about with his Land Rover.

Poppy Briggs

Executive Assistant to the Board

Poppy joined Pigeon in 2023 as the Executive Assistant to the Board of Directors. In her role, she provides comprehensive administrative support to the Directors and serves as their primary point of contact.

Before joining Pigeon, Poppy worked in the construction industry, where she provided administration, accounts, and personal assistant services to the directors. Prior to that, she spent five years as a retail manager, which laid a solid foundation of knowledge that she has carried through her various roles.

Outside of work, Poppy enjoys spending time with her children and partner, particularly through leisurely walks and is currently busy planning her wedding.

Emma Butler

Development Surveyor

Emma joined Pigeon in 2019 as a Graduate Surveyor following a degree in Real Estate at the Royal Agricultural University. She has since completed her APC, qualifying as a member of RICS in June 2022 and progressing to become a Development Surveyor.

In her role at Pigeon, Emma assists with the management and delivery of strategic commercial and mixed-use development projects.

Away from work, Emma enjoys socialising with friends and family, and spending time in the countryside – usually on a horse or walking with a couple of Labradors.

Chris Criscione

Head of Communications

Chris leads the communications team at Pigeon, with strategic-level responsibility for the group’s communications. This includes corporate marketing and communications, as well as community and political engagement across Pigeon projects. He also assists the land promotion and funding teams with a particular focus on business development and growth.

He joined the company in 2024, having held senior management positions within a communications consultancy and before that, headed up group PR, communications and engagement for a regional developer.

Chris is a District Councillor in North Essex, currently Vice Chairman of the Council. He co-chairs the authority’s Operational Resilience Taskforce and sits on the Scrutiny Committee and £300m Investment Board.

Away from work, Chris devotes his time to his young family, as well as being a charity trustee and active freemason. He also spends a lot of time scouring dense vegetation for his wayward golf shots.

Jade Clarke

Assistant Financial Accountant

Jade joined Pigeon in July 2024 as Assistant Financial Accountant.

As Assistant Financial Accountant, Jade is responsible for invoicing, banking and management accounts for a variety of projects at Pigeon

Jade began her career in finance in 2017 and since then has had various roles, including working as Banking & Treasury Team Leader for a private healthcare group.

Having only moved to Suffolk in December 2023, Jade is spending most of her time renovating her new home. She also enjoys live music.

Emma Conley

Property / Office Manager

Emma has been with Pigeon since the very early days and is responsible for managing the office as well as the expanding Pigeon property portfolio. Her role spans health and safety, human resources and property management - it’s fair to say that it needs patience, dedication, and high-level organisational skills! Before becoming part of the fledgling Pigeon family in 2004, Emma ran a business with her husband for ten years.

Away from work, Emma enjoys walking her dogs and is a trustee and committee member for the Bury St Edmunds Constitutional Club.

Simon Debney

Group Financial Controller

As Group Financial Controller, Simon is responsible for managing all day-to-day financial matters across Pigeon and managing the Finance team. He is an ICAEW-qualified accountant and trained in a top 10 accountancy practice.

Simon joined Pigeon in 2022, bringing experience from his previous roles in industry where he led financial reporting and commercial finance teams, most recently for a private equity-backed healthcare group.

Away from work, Simon enjoys playing sport and can often be found on the badminton court or the golf course.

Tom Gidney

Finance Business Partner

As Finance Business Partner Tom is responsible for the accounts and cashflows for a variety of investment projects at Pigeon. He is also on hand to offer finance advice and support to the project managers.

Tom began his career in finance in 2014 as an apprentice and since then has had various roles, including working as a business partner for internal services at West Suffolk Council. He joined Pigeon in January 2020 and became a Chartered Accountant the following year.

Away from work, Tom enjoys going on city breaks, visiting new places, trying new food and training for triathlons.

Paul Gray

Company Accountant

Paul has been with Pigeon for more than 16 years. Previously to Pigeon, he spent 10 years as an Audit Senior in an accounting and auditing practice and a further 20 years working as a company accountant in the food and packaging industries.

As Company Accountant he is responsible for all the corporate finances at Pigeon. Paul brings accuracy and diligence to his role and enjoys the variety of work.

Away from work, Paul enjoys reading, listening to music, gardening, and watching sports - he has been a fan of Manchester United for almost 60 years!

Tony Hickman

Senior Technical Manager

As Senior Technical Manager, Tony is responsible for carrying out technical appraisals of sites to assess any constraints and opportunities. He works alongside the Planning team to establish layouts with a real focus on sustainability and active travel links.

Prior to Pigeon Tony had more than 10 years of experience working for various engineering consultancies, including acting as lead Civil Engineer on the delivery of a £30m award-winning West Suffolk Operations Waste Hub.

He joined Pigeon in October 2022 for the opportunity to work for a well-known and respected property company. Tony is a Chartered Civil Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Highways Engineers.

Away from work, Tony can be found coaching his son’s football team - he loves every minute of it, from planning the drills to setting the goals up in the rain!

Kimberley Kaddish

Senior Planning Manager

Kimberley is responsible for managing all planning matters relating to a portfolio of real estate projects including the delivery of high-quality landscape and design-led sustainable schemes.

Kimberley joined Pigeon in September 2023 having previously worked for Carter Jonas where she was an Associate Partner. Kimberley is an experienced planning professional with over 15 years’ experience and has been a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute since 2017.

Away from work, Kimberley can be found spending time with her young family and enjoying time outside in the sunshine as much as the British weather will allow.

Stuart Inskip

Senior Development Manager

Stuart joined Pigeon in 2023 as Senior Development Manager in the Land Promotion team. He is responsible for managing a variety of projects, working with the team to deliver marketable planning permissions, and managing the final sale of the land to developers.

Stuart began his career at Countryside Properties as a Land Buyer, later moving on to companies such as Redrow and Crest before returning to Countryside as an Associate Development Director. The experience he gained at these companies means he is able to bring housing delivery expertise to enhance the schemes that are developed.

Away from work, Stuart likes to keep himself active by running, cycling, and playing tennis. He also enjoys taking part in outdoor challenges such as canoeing down the river Spey.

Justyna Kucharska

Design Co-ordinator

As Design Co-ordinator, Justyna’s role involves producing concept drawings and plans, as well as supporting the Planning, Commercial, and Land teams with a variety of technical drawings.

After completing her first-class degree in Building Surveying, Justyna worked for a multi-disciplinary consultancy that delivered affordable homes for a range of developers and housing associations before joining Pigeon in 2020.

Away from work, Justyna can be found spending time with her children, playing computer games, and doing arts and crafts.

Alice Lockwood

Accounts Assistant

As Accounts Assistant, Alice’s role involves purchase ledger and sales ledger input, liaising with suppliers, and assisting the team with projects whenever needed. She originally began her career in social care, but after studying and completing her AAT, changed to a finance career in 2018.

Prior to Pigeon, Alice’s first four years of financial work were within commercial finance. Alice was attracted to the positive atmosphere and supportive environment of Pigeon and very much enjoys working with a team of people who strive to progress and improve.

Claire Norris

Senior Communications Manager

Claire manages the Communications team, and together they deliver all the diverse communications and stakeholder engagement for the various projects and schemes at Pigeon. Claire initially joined Pigeon in 2018 as an Engagement Manager and was attracted by the company’s ambition – something that still holds true today.

Pre-Pigeon, she worked in several communications roles, covering all aspects of marketing, events, and PR, including 12 years at Greene King within the beer brands marketing team. Claire is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, having passed her Postgraduate Diploma in 2004.

Away from work, Claire enjoys travelling, as well as spending time with her friends and family. She loves live music and tries to get to as many gigs as possible.

Will Page

Planner

As a Planner, Will assists the Planning team in its day-to-day activities and provides support across a wide range of planning projects. He enjoys the exposure he gets within his role to all of these projects and especially appreciates seeing the team’s hard work come to fruition.

Will began working at Pigeon in 2021 after completing his degree in Geography. He is currently progressing toward becoming a Chartered Town Planner following completion of an RTPI accredited MSc in 2023.

Away from work, Will is an accomplished runner who competes regularly for Colchester and Tendring AC and Suffolk – he can run 800 metres in 1 minute and 57 seconds! He is also a big music fan and can often be found at gigs or playing guitar.

Helen Payne

Client Services Executive

Helen joined Pigeon in September 2024 as Client Services Executive within the Investment team.

She has spent the majority of her career within the property and construction industries before recently relocating to Suffolk, having previously worked for a large surveying firm based in Norwich.

Outside of work, Helen enjoys long walks in the countryside and spending time with her family and friends.

Gemma Richardson

Assistant PA to the Directors

Gemma joined Pigeon in July 2024 as the Assistant PA to the Directors, providing administrative support to the Board and wider team, alongside being the first point of contact in the office.

Prior to joining Pigeon, she worked as Senior Administration Assistant at RSM, Bury St Edmunds for 3 years. Gemma has over 14 years experience in various administration roles.

Away from work Gemma enjoys spending time with her family, in particular watching her two sons play football.

Pauline Shakes

Finance Administrator - TWS

Pauline is the Finance Administrator for Founding Director Will Stanton’s Private Office. She manages the accounts, monitors investments, and compiles management reports.

Prior to this, Pauline gained extensive experience with many years as a company accountant in the Film/TV Industry.

Away from work, Pauline is a keen gardener and DIY enthusiast.

James Simpson

Asset Management Surveyor

James manages Pigeon’s commercial investment properties and assists with the acquisition and exit strategies. He likes to take a hands-on approach to asset management and relishes opportunities to be creative. James recognises the importance of forging strong relationships with people and enjoys working in a collaborative team environment at Pigeon.

Prior to joining Pigeon in September 2024, James worked in the Investment & Property Management team at Bidwells, Cambridge, having joined there as a graduate. He managed retail, office, industrial, and lab properties to maximise returns whilst mitigating risks for his clients, which included Cambridge Colleges and Family Offices.

Away from work, James enjoys sharing new experiences with his young family, as well as trying to squeeze in time for his love of sports, live music and travel.

Ben Temple

Associate

Ben joined Pigeon in 2023 and manages construction projects across the logistics and residential sectors, working closely with the Pigeon teams and external consultants. With his strong track record in delivering construction projects, he enjoys bringing his experience into the business to provide advice and guidance to colleagues. Ben enjoys working on projects where he can take a more forward-thinking approach, carrying out due diligence and careful planning upfront to ensure a considered approach – and a better outcome.

Away from work, Ben will often be found on two wheels on his motorbike, or with his four-legged friend on a long walk. He is also pretty handy at making furniture!

Victoria Wood

Land Manager

Victoria joined Pigeon in 2021 and works within the Land Promotion team. She is responsible for sourcing new land opportunities and managing a number of existing projects throughout their lifespan.

Victoria began her career in 2016 as a graduate at Allsop LLP, and having qualified as a Chartered Surveyor she joined the Residential Transactional and Living Markets team where she focused on Land and Development Agency and Consultancy.

Away from work Victoria enjoys cooking, travelling, golf, and spending time with her friends on the North Norfolk Coast.

Emma Conley

Property / Office Manager

Emma has been with Pigeon since the very early days and is responsible for managing the office as well as the expanding Pigeon property portfolio. Her role spans health and safety, human resources and property management - it’s fair to say that it needs patience, dedication, and high-level organisational skills! Before becoming part of the fledgling Pigeon family in 2004, Emma ran a business with her husband for ten years.

Away from work, Emma enjoys walking her dogs and is a trustee and committee member for the Bury St Edmunds Constitutional Club.