SOUTH 3RD LOFTS - Key Persons


Alex Pankonin - Chief Legal Officer

Job Titles:
  • Legal Counsel
In his role as legal counsel, Alex upholds Yugo's legal compliance and advances the company's objectives. Demonstrating a commitment to Yugo's values, Alex approaches his work with enthusiasm and a continual desire for knowledge, fostering a positive work environment that empowers Yugo's global team of Yugoers to shape their future and live their best lives. Alex's priority is to steer Yugo's growth through harnessing collective creativity and employing dynamic, versatile leadership.

Antonio Lopez

Job Titles:
  • Regional Director, Europe
With over a decade in student housing, Antonio brings a wealth of invaluable expertise to Yugo in his role as the Regional Director of Europe. Antonio's primary focus is steering our operations in Spain and Germany, where he aims to enhance the Yugo experience by fostering performance through adept team management, the strategic implementation of our growth initiatives, and the optimization of our business planning cycle.

Beckley Point

Job Titles:
  • Resident

Christopher Holloway

Job Titles:
  • Chief Business Development Officer

Ed Walters

Job Titles:
  • Global IT Director
Ed plays a key role in our continued growth as a business, leading our IT team with a combination of business acumen and technical agility. He brings many years' experience in running transformational projects, driving change and innovation, and successfully building tech systems within the student housing sector. Before Yugo, he spent over 17 years with University Partnerships Programme (UPP).

Jasmin Zelinko

Job Titles:
  • Vice President Operations, USA
Jasmin has over 25 years of experience in the in the property management industry across various sectors in the US and has worked in 20 states. Jasmin is championing the student experiencing at Yugo whilst developing relationships with key stakeholders. Her expertise includes new construction, building renovations, property acquisitions, due diligence projects, and the annual student housing turn.

Joanna MacAdie

Job Titles:
  • Global Brand and Communications Director
With over a decade of experience, Joanna (Jo) excels in creating compelling narratives. A seasoned PR expert in travel, hospitality, real estate, and lifestyle, she has also spearheaded marketing and communications for major international sporting events.

Joe Persechino - COO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Operating Officer
A student and residential housing specialist with over 20 years of experience in global operational real estate. Joe is leading world-class team and focused on optimizing the student experience and ensuring investor results. His experience covers major markets such as USA and Europe, with a proven track record in developing businesses and teams to deliver operational results.

Kasper Wigen

Job Titles:
  • Global Performance Marketing Director
A seasoned professional, Kasper boasts a 15-year tenure spearheading hotel marketing across global markets. His strategic prowess and industry insight have driven successful international campaigns, establishing him as a leader in the dynamic landscape of hospitality marketing. Kasper excels in blending traditional marketing with cutting-edge digital and performance marketing techniques, using data-driven approaches to enhance brand visibility and customer engagement in the digital realm.

Keona Lee

Job Titles:
  • Sales and Revenue Director, USA
Yugo's profitability sits under Keona's watchful eye. Using high-impact, technology-based leasing solutions, she ensures we meet our occupancy targets and grow our revenue. Her career in Sales & Advertising includes specialist experience in the fields of digital media, guerilla marketing, and brand promotions with global pioneers such as Red Bull, Jack Daniels and Clear Channel.

Nicholas Porter - Founder

Job Titles:
  • Founder
Nick is a pioneer in the student housing sector for over 30 years. His unparalleled reputation at expanding into new markets, innovating the sector and creating unique student experiences is testament to his career to date. Nick founded Yugo, the first global student housing brand and operator that offers a truly differentiated living experience. He is also CEO of The Dot Group and founder of GSA.

Simon Griffiths

Job Titles:
  • Regional Director, UK & Ireland
In his role as the Regional Director of UK & Ireland, Simon leads a dynamic team overseeing 39 spaces, dedicated to delivering top-notch student accommodation for Yugo's students. Boasting over 15 years of expertise in student housing and residential renting, Simon possesses a profound understanding of growth strategy, business planning, and effective routes to market. Simon is committed to ensuring unparalleled customer satisfaction, striving to ensure that every Yugo student lives their best life.

Stacy Brindise

Stacy is fuelled by a passion for hospitality. Leading cross-functional multi-cultural teams is her forte and, over the course of her 20-year career, she's also proved herself adept at managing the roll-out of brand-defining standards and programs. Alongside her other achievements, Stacy has created and launched a training program for property managers and overseen the training department set up to deliver them.

Tim Klitscher

Tim has 20+ years' experience in hospitality, commercial, residential leased & freehold portfolios, plus global experience in portfolio management. Before Yugo, Tim led national operations for Unilodge, driving operational standards, revenue generation and managing key stakeholder relationships with Owners and Universities.

Varun Malik

Job Titles:
  • Global Acquisitions and Integration Director
Varun has extensive expertise spanning real assets, leveraged finance, and commercial real estate ventures. As a results-oriented financial services professional, he boasts over two decades of hands-on experience in the industry. In his role as Global Acquisitions and Integration Director, Varun brings a wealth of commercial oversight, showcasing a proven track record in analytics, business transformation, and operational efficiencies.

William Rainsford

Job Titles:
  • Global Senior Vice President, Finance
With more than two decades of experience in the finance sector within international and entrepreneurial enterprises, Will heads Yugo's global finance team. He drives initiatives in reporting and performance, collaborating closely with the management team to optimize efficiency. Will's expertise extends to diverse industries, such as property, technology, sports, and multinational financial services firms.