CELTIC - Key Persons
Aled Rhys Jones is a board member of Celtic Property and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyor from Bala, North Wales. After completing a bachelor degree in Land Administration in London, Rhys began his career with Associated British Ports in Cardiff before moving to DTZ where he remained in a number of roles in Cardiff, Prague and Warsaw rising to be Managing Director of the Polish office by the age of 26. In 1999 he formed Celtic Asset Management (CAM) with his friend Andrew Shepherd in order to asset manage Inter Ikea's property assets in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). They were joined by Craig Darbey soon afterwards. The company went on to complete a number of projects in Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Germany, Belgium, Norway and Sweden with NCC becoming a main client. Part of the company was sold to iOG in the UK in order to raise and place 500m Euro in CEE Multi let Industrial property on behalf of Morley. On successfully completing this remit the remainder of the company was sold to Teesland who in turn were taken over by Valad.
In 2004 Rhys and Andrew set up Savills in CEE and sold the 40% holding in the company 18 months later. Trinity corporate services was set up in Poland with the three partners owning 49% of it. It experienced two years of rapid growth to a point where it had 134 staff before being sold and rebranded as Vistra. A number of other companies were also started including Celtic Fire in Australia and Gentille Wineries in Herzegovina.
Alicja Buss has dual Polish / British citizenship. Her current role in the Celtic Group of companies is that of Asset Manager. Alicja graduated from The British School Warsaw having completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Since graduating, she has gained valuable experience in retail, building on her previous know-how within logistics and working with both customers and suppliers. She is predominantly involved with implementing new leases and renewals, and negotiating contracts with suppliers.
Alicja recently completed an assignment in the self-storage branch of the company where she gained valuable insight into how that business operates.
In her free time, Alicja enjoys photography, art, dance, travel and horse-riding.
Andrew Morrioson Shepherd is a board member of Celtic Property and a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyor from Greenock, Scotland. After completing a bachelor degree in Land Economics in Paisley University, Andrew began his career with Ryden in Glasgow before moving Prague where her was appointed Managing Director of the Czech office by the age of 24.
Craig Lewis Darbey is a board member of Celtic Property from Cardiff, Wales. After completing a degree in Agriculture from Usk college, Craig began his career in 1980 in agriculture and owned a farm which intensively reared Calves and Rabbits. He diversified into commercial landscaping and had contracts with all five of the largest house builders in South Wales.
In 1992 he moved to Prague in Czech Republic to set up Lewis Darbey & Co Print Specialist which expanded into Warsaw Poland in 1997. In 1999 he joined Celtic Asset Management (CAM) soon after its inception in order to asset manage Inter Ikea's property assets in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The company went on to complete a number of projects in Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Germany, Belgium, Norway and Sweden with NCC becoming a main client. Part of the company was sold to iOG in the UK in order to raise and place 500m Euro in CEE Multi let Industrial property on behalf of Morley.
Giles Peberdy is a Englishman from Leicestershire with a farming background.
After completing a Bachelor Degree at Harper Adams University in Agricultural Marketing and Business, Giles began his career in 1990 as a Grain Trader for Associated British Foods, followed by Production Manager for G's Salads (largest European salads supplier to UK supermarkets).
In 1995 Giles moved to Warsaw Poland and set up a Land Agency, leasing and selling state agricultural land to foreign investors. Within 8 years over 40.000 ha changed hands and provided management services to individual clients. In 2006 Giles joined Celtic Asset Management (CAM) purchasing an agricultural land bank and converting to residential building land.
Joanna Jagiełło is a Polish citizen and is currently the CFO of the Celtic Group of companies.
In 1999, on completing a master degree in International Economics and Politics at Warsaw School of Economics, she joined TMF Poland, the multinational accounting, HR and payroll services provider. She dealt with clients from various industries ranging from trading , and service suppliers to food producers. From 2004 to 2007 she worked as an Accounting Manager.
In 2007 she was appointed by Celtic Assets Management and then to Celtic Property Development with properties in Poland, Hungary, and Montenegro, and providing property management services in UK and Italy. Her role was to build and manage the accounting team, acting as the Group Financial Controller and the Head of the accounting department. She dealt with several restructuring projects, including cross-border mergers and the listing of the company on the Frankfurt and later Polish stock exchanges.
Between 2012 and 2013 she set up and managed JSG Corporate Services - providing accounting, IFRS and Polish GAAP reporting, consolidation of the financial statements and accounting services. She has spent her professional career mainly responsible for accounting, financial controlling in companies and capital groups, including entities listed on Warsaw Stock Exchange, operating in various industries and reporting in Polish, international, and specific group accounting standards. She has a wealth of experience in IFRS, accounting software implementation, consolidation of the financial statements, cash management, liquidations, and in dealing with financial institutions.
Privately Joanna is passionate about travelling and volleyball. In spare time she supports the home city and national volleyball teams, studies Portugal and plans the voyages.
Job Titles:
- Head of Human Resources at the Celtic Group
Paulina Kalinowska is a Polish citizen and currently Head of Human Resources at the Celtic Group of companies.
In 2003, on completion of her Master's degree in Polish Philology at Wroclaw University, Paulina joined TMF Poland, a multinational accounting, HR and payroll services provider. During her tenure she gained valuable experience in the administration and structuring of companies, in addition to increasing her understanding of accounting and HR. Paulina also completed a post-graduate study in Property Management at the prestigious Warsaw School of Economics, alongside a property valuation course at the Politechnika Warszawska.
In 2005 Paulina joined Celtic, since when she has undertaken a number of asset management and administrative roles; this has equipped her with a wealth of knowledge as to how the real estate world works. She has executed several restructuring projects, including cross-border mergers and the listing of the company on the Frankfurt, and later Polish, stock exchange.
Given her experience, Paulina often advises the board on various projects, as well as giving guidance on legal and accounting matters within the group. Furthermore, she acts as mentor to a number of the younger staff whilst having oversight of the day-to-day asset management of certain projects.