Pluto Finance has appointed Max Güntner as lending director for Germany and the Netherlands, marking the next stage of its European growth strategy.
The real estate private credit platform, which specialises in development and bridging finance, has recently announced hires in Spain and Ireland, alongside its £2bn partnership with Blackstone to provide whole loan lending for the mid-market.
Güntner brings nearly 20 years of experience in real estate and structured finance, with a track record of originating, structuring and executing transactions worth around €2.7bn.
Based in Frankfurt, he has held senior positions at Deutsche Bank, Laurus Property Partners and most recently served as executive director at 777 Financial Advisors.
Ciaran Singh, managing director for Europe at Pluto Finance, said: “Max’s arrival is another important milestone in our European growth strategy.
“Having established a strong presence in the UK, we have begun replicating this success across Ireland, Iberia and can now extend this to Germany and the Netherlands.
“These are deep real estate markets where flexible credit solutions are in demand. Max’s combination of transaction experience, a pan-European perspective, and trusted network of borrower and investor relationships will be central to our ability to build momentum quickly.
“His appointment underlines our commitment to attracting the strongest talent to lead our expansion.”
Güntner said: “Pluto has an impressive track record in the UK, built on a reputation for pragmatism, speed of execution and a borrower-first approach.
“These qualities resonate strongly with mid-market and institutional borrowers across Europe, where demand for alternative real estate credit continues to grow.
“I am excited to help bring this successful model to Germany and the Netherlands, where I see significant opportunities across both residential and commercial markets.
“With Pluto’s strong investor backing and established expertise, I am confident we can build a long-term, sustainable lending business in these regions. I look forward to working with Ciaran and the wider team to deliver on this vision.”
Pluto Finance has provided over £3.5bn of loans across 300 transactions in the UK since inception and is now extending its lending model to continental Europe.
