Meet The propertyCEO Team
Founders
Ritchie Clapson
CEng MIStructE
Co-founder
- Ritchie has been involved in property development for over 40 years, and as co-founder of propertyCEO, he coaches both novice and experienced property developers how to create substantial returns from small-to-medium scale developments
- Ritchie’s development pedigree speaks for itself. A qualified structural engineer by profession, he’s not only worked on hundreds of new-build, commercial and industrial conversion projects, he’s also trained and mentored countless developers and property professionals during his long career in the industry
- A business coach and strategist, he built up one of the country’s leading structural engineering firms and was appointed by the government as peer review engineer for the London 2012 Olympic Stadium
- Ritchie is a regular visiting expert and panelist at property events across the UK, and consults on numerous development projects
Ian Child
Co-founder
- Ian has over 30 years’ experience in corporate leadership, having led a pan-European business unit for one of the world’s largest private equity companies, with responsibility for nine-figure top-line annual revenues
- During that time, Ian worked with some of the world’s most dynamic organisations, and learned first-hand how they train their people and their businesses to be successful
- A passionate advocate and student of mindset and performance coaching, Ian created personalCEO to integrate his extensive business and mindset knowledge into propertyCEO’s training
- His deep understanding of personal and business branding underpins propertyCEO’s comprehensive training in this area, allowing students to gain credibility as first-time developers
- Ian oversees propertyCEO’s teams of Accountability, Branding and Performance Coaches who work one-to-one with students to help them launch their development businesses and overcome any roadblocks to success
- Ian also writes articles for many industry publications and websites, as well as authoring books on property and personal development.
Assistant Directors
Tayla Clapson
Assistant Director
Tayla has been with propertyCEO from the outset and knows the business inside and out. She oversees much of the day-to-day operational activity in the company and also provides executive support to Ritchie. A member of the Clapson dynasty, she is also mum to Benji the Wonder Dog.
Senior Leadership Team
Dan Nelson
Sales & Client Relations
Dan is our Director of Sales and Client Relations, an established property developer, landlord and business growth strategist who has worked in the property industry and in helping businesses scale for over 20 years. He is co-founder of the Harnel Group and DN Consulting Services and is a regular guest at many of the largest property and business events across the UK. Dan also has a keen passion for helping and supporting those looking to get into property development and is currently working on numerous development projects across London. He is also the host of our exclusive monthly Fast Track Workshop.
Lucy Gray
Marketing
Lucy boasts over two decades’ marketing experience in senior management positions across a number of industry sectors, including construction. She is responsible for propertyCEO’s marketing activity across all platforms, both digital and traditional.
Jan Beldon
Finance
A qualified business coach and mentor, Jan brings over 30 years’ business and finance leadership experience to propertyCEO. She has worked with many business owners, executives, and SMEs to help them achieve some incredible results, drawing on her historic experience as Finance Director for a number of world-class businesses. In addition to heading up propertyCEO’s Finance area, Jan advises propertyCEO’s students on their business plans and structure as a Business Coach.
Carolyn Hobbs
Operations
Carolyn has been a key part of propertyCEO from the outset and plays a critical role in heading up our Helpdesk. Her team is dedicated to answering support tickets from our students, co-ordinating the Live Q&As, and making sure that everything generally runs like clockwork.
Client Relations
James Benge
Client Relations Liaison
James is an established buy-to-let landlord who plays an important role at propertyCEO working in the Client Relations area. He can often be found at many of the UK’s largest property exhibitions and events where he shares insights about propertyCEO and talks to students who are interested in getting into small-scale property development for the very first time. James is also part of the support team for our live Academy Day and Developers Club workshops.
Coaching Team
Dan Stiles
Head Technical Coach
Dan is a highly experienced Project Manager offering his expertise through his company Syndicate Group Southern. Dan originally founded DDS Consulting, a leading construction cost management specialists and quantity surveyors. As business grew and his services were needed for both commercial and project management, Dan amalgamated the two together and Syndicate Group Southern was born. As the Head Technical Coach, he helps students analyse deals and work out the best way of maximising development opportunities.
Cara Moore
Head Performance Coach
Cara Moore ICF PCC is one of less than 400 Professional Certified Coaches with the International Coach Federation (ICF), which is globally regarded as setting the gold standard in coaching. Having started her career as a RICS Chartered Surveyor before becoming a leading leadership and life coach, Cara is ideally placed to help property developers get the best results from themselves.
Colin Smith
Planning Consultant
As the head of CJS Planning Services, Colin is one of the country’s leading planning consultants and a fountain of knowledge on all things relating to building and planning regulation. With over 20 years’ experience, Colin’s expertise in respect of Permitted Development Rights makes him highly sought after by developers across the UK.
Mike Sandhu
Architectural Consultant
As a partner at chartered architects SC Architecture, Mike has been in the construction industry for over 20 years where he has built an outstanding reputation. He specialises in planning applications and building regulations approvals; new builds and refurbishments, both residential and commercial.
Derek Mason
Structural Engineering Consultant
Derek Mason CEng PrEng MSc(Eng) MSAICE MICE MIStructE is the head of award-winning structural engineering consultants Super Structures Associates and has over 35 years’ experience as a Chartered structural engineer. He has worked on projects of many sizes and complexity across the world, and is also the best-selling author of “Will It Stand Up?” following his peer review work on the London 2012 Olympic Stadium.
Dickeesha Stiles
Cost Consultant
As a Senior Quantity Surveyor, Dickeesha is the technical coach responsible for critiquing our student’s costing skills. A developer in her own right, she has a great depth of experience that helps ensure that students use the right pricing assumptions for their deals.
David Butterworth
Performance Coach
With 20 years experience of coaching individuals in the private and public sector, David can provide clarity of thought, build confidence, and support you to move forward with action. As a Business-Life and Performance Coach, David can provide you with the space to think and reflect, connecting to your purpose, values and beliefs that underpin your vision and direction of your Business-Life.
Debbie Stanford
Performance Coach
Debbie has 25 years coaching experience and holds the ILM Level 7 (Institute of Leadership and Management, Masters Level) in Executive Coaching and Mentoring and is also a Fellow of the ILM. She coaches a wide variety of clients in the public, private and charity sectors. She is enthusiastic in assisting mentees to realise their potential and enthuse them to reach their goals.
Jo Balston
Branding Coach and Accountability Coach
Jo is propertyCEO’s branding expert extraordinaire! A design professional with over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry, Jo brings a wealth of branding and design knowledge to propertyCEO. She is also an established property developer, having founded New Light Property Group in 2019, and is a propertyCEO graduate.
Sam Beddoe
Accountability Coach
Following an illustrious career in the police force, Sam became a highly successful property investor and has experience in many different property sectors, including single lets, HMOs, refurbishment, title splitting, lease extensions, commercial conversions, planning gain and serviced accommodation. She is the founder and CEO of property development company Revive Holdings and is also a graduate of propertyCEO.
Head Office Team
Grace Varley
Executive Assistant & Inclusion Ambassador
Grace works for Ian as part of the executive support team. She also manages propertyCEO’s executive office premises and as propertyCEO’s Inclusion Ambassador, is responsible for ensuring that our training and content is as accessible as possible.
Ella Clapson
Events Manager
As Events Manager, Ella is responsible for managing propertyCEO’s training and speaking events, including our Academy Days, Masterclass Workshops and Developers Club events.
Sam Gould
Support Team
A self-confessed techie, Sam has a great understanding of all the systems that are behind the scenes, keeping things running smoothly and helping with any questions and queries that come into the Helpdesk.
Teah Gillingham
Marketing Executive
A key member of propertyCEO’s marketing team, Teah is responsible for enhancing propertyCEO’s online presence across all social media channels, as well as contributing to much of its creative output.
Mark Beaumont
Transportation
A professional airline pilot and chauffeur, Mark is responsible for delivering Ritchie and Ian to their training and speaking engagements around the country.
Abbie Mason
Support Team
Abbie has developed the art of juggling since joining the team, from managing the questions that come into the Helpdesk, to helping new students get up and running to ensuring everyone gets onto the relevant webinars and meetings.
Frances Karsenbarg
Support Team
Frances is a member of our Helpdesk team, dedicated to helping our students get up and running, and assisting with any questions and queries they have.
Benji
Wonder Dog
Benji is yet another member of the Clapson clan and boasts an Instagram following of thousands.
