Knight Frank launches new Infrastructure Lead Advisory team

Ian Wood, a former Partner at KPMG, has been appointed to head up the new team, and will be supported by Victoria Smith, previously an Energy M&A Director at PKF Francis Clark.

The move will enable Knight Frank to further capitalise on the growth of infrastructure as an asset class, including ongoing significant global investment in the energy transition.

The Infrastructure team will be led by former Big 4 Partner Ian Wood, who has specialised in infrastructure corporate finance and M&A for over 24 years. Ian has advised clients across the energy and infrastructure sectors including renewables, flexible generation and storage, hydrogen, carbon capture and EV charging. He has a significant and market-leading deal track-record with clients including Natwest Pension Fund, Ming Yang, GLIL Infrastructure, Viridor as well as many independent energy businesses.

Ian will be supported by Victoria Smith, previously a Corporate Finance Director at PKF Francis Clark. Victoria also has a Big 4 background, having qualified as a Chartered Accountant at PwC. She has specialised in energy M&A since 2014, spending four years in the Energy and Infrastructure team at JLL, before moving to PKF Francis Clark in 2018. Her expertise lies in renewable energy, with an emphasis on solar, BESS and onshore wind. The new team will work closely with and build upon the work of the award-winning Knight Frank Energy, Sustainability and Natural Resources teams, led by David Goatman.

Shaun Roy, Partner at Knight Frank commented: “Launching an Infrastructure Lead Advisory team is a strategic move for Knight Frank, as we seek to capitalise on the recent growth in the market and the ever closer alignment of infrastructure and real estate assets as part of our client’s investment strategies. The calibre of these two appointments demonstrates our commitment to providing unparalleled lead advisory services in this space and we look forward to welcoming Ian and Victoria to Knight Frank.”

Ian Wood added: “I am delighted to join Knight Frank to establish our new Infrastructure Lead Advisory team at a time when energy and infrastructure investment will need to scale rapidly to deliver the Government’s strategic objectives. We are passionate about supporting clients with value adding advice, so that they achieve market leading deal outcomes across the energy and infrastructure sectors.”