Spear's Review

Russell Smithers, co-founder and CEO of REDD, has a unique focus to his work: he operates in prime property development as well as investment advisory. He tells Spear's that this dual specialism has proven popular with clients, many of whom initially engage him for his expertise as a trained architect before returning to buy second or third homes, expanding their property portfolios along the way.

With offices in London and Monaco, REDD is highly regarded by industry observers. One esteemed property lawyer describes Smithers and his team as 'well established, experienced and reliable'.

He explains that REDD's projects have included a penthouse in Mayfair, residential apartments in Kensington and homes in the Côte d'Azur. 'We now have £300 million of property investments under management for our client base, as well as an ongoing development pipeline of £350 million.'

Adviser Profile

A qualified architect by training, I have spent the past 15 years operating at the intersection of design, investment and asset management within the super-prime residential sector. Today, I advise family offices, sophisticated investors and private clients on the strategic acquisition, development and long-term optimisation of complex, high-value property portfolios.

This is a highly specialised and design-focused area of property, so combining a design and investment skill set makes me uniquely placed to advise our clients. I started REDD in 2018 to operate under my own business, which is a hybrid development and private client advisory business. We develop properties for open market resale, as well as private owner occupiers. REDD is a privately owned real estate company, with offices in London and Monaco. It is focused on the investment, development and management of prime property in world-class locations.

Central to my approach is a relationship-led advisory model, underpinned by deep sector knowledge and a well-established, highly respected network of developers, financiers, designers and off-market intermediaries. My counsel ranges from initial site finding, managing the development process, exit strategies, as well as ongoing portfolio and property management.

REDD's combination of providing development and property management creates an intelligent and coordinated position to facilitate all of the property needs of its investors and clients. We now have £300 million of property investments under management for our client base, as well as an ongoing development pipeline of £350 million. This scale reflects my role as a trusted long-term adviser to private clients and family offices, guiding capital through complex, high-value property decisions.