Meet the Agents - GEM Estates introduces members of their expanding Marbella team.

Since moving to Spain, GEM are pleased to announce that they have expanded their existing team. Here you can read about the team behind this exciting property company.

Adam Cornwell – ‘El Jefe’ (The Gaffer)

Adam worked in the UK Property Market for around seven years but always harboured a burning passion for travel and didn’t like sitting still for too long. He set up GEM Estates, together with partner, Sam Bartlett, two years ago, as a cunning way of combining his love of property with lots of globe trotting. Adam now spends his days hopping on and off planes searching out the best developments in the best investment destinations across the world. He is proud to say that he can pack a full suitcase in just over five minutes. As a Capricorn, Adam is “capable of persisting for as long as is necessary to accomplish a goal they have set for themselves” and is striving towards world domination of the overseas property market.

Sam Bartlett – ‘El Jefe Número Dos’ (Boss Nº2)

Sam previously had his own telecommunications company and spent 12 years working in the City of London for large investment banks such as Reuters and Bloomberg designing infrastructure for new dealing platforms. Fed up of seven day weeks and City smog, Sam relocated to Spain six years ago and began investing and trading in land and project managing the build of luxury villas. Old school pal, Adam, came knocking on Sam’s door two years ago and GEM Estates was born. Sam is currently training up his two sons, age three and five, so they can continue Daddy’s world domination.

Trevor Byrne – ‘El Irlandés’ (The Irishman)

Waterford man, Trevor, moved on from a Degree in Business and Leisure Management to working in financial markets in places such as Canada, Australia, Jersey and London before ending up in the property business, both domestic and overseas. Trevor now heads up GEM Estates’ Irish office and oversees the Moroccan desk. Trevor has seen Morocco become a hotbed for investors from both the UK and Ireland, attracted by low prices, accessibility and the enormous drive and vision of the Moroccan King.

Carley Todd – ‘La Reina del Caribe’ (The Queen of the Caribbean)

Carley is a new addition to the GEM Estates team and brings a welcome calming female touch to an otherwise testosterone-dominated environment. Carley started life in IT Recruitment in the City of London, but like Sam, saw the light and moved to Spain five years ago. Initially working for a large real estate company, Carley worked in the investment division, seeking out long and short term investment opportunities, and before long was promoted to head of the ‘America and Caribbean’ team. She has transferred her skills and expertise to GEM Estates and looks after clients interested in Isla Margarita, the Turks & Caicos, Brazil and the ‘new Caribbean’ – Cape Verde. Carley tips Isla Margarita as the ‘one to watch’, an unspoilt paradise with tax-free status and bargain prices, although they’re sure to rise soon. Carley is proud Mum to Max, age three, whose Spanish is infinitely better than both Mum and Dad’s.

Ian Fillingham – ‘El Rey de Cabo Verde’ (The Cape Verde King)

Ian is another GEM Estates newbie. Ian had 20 years’ senior sales management experience in the UK before moving to Spain five years ago to work in the Spanish property market. After witnessing a slowdown in the local market first-hand, Ian decided to join GEM Estates and get his teeth stuck into some fascinating emerging markets. Ian oversees the Cape Verde desk and sees a big future for these Islands which have all of the attributes of the Caribbean without the long flights. Ian is pleased to have left behind hot days behind the wheel driving from one Costa del Sol building site to another and looks forward to being a pivotal part of GEM Estates’ future success.

Samuel – ‘El Niño’ (The Little’un)

Sam, in his early 20s, is the baby of the bunch, but what he lacks in years, he makes up for in experience. With a Degree in European Politics under his belt, Sam dived straight into a career in overseas real estate. GEM Estates` newest recruit is a dab hand at established market, Portugal, but Sam felt that the excitement and potential of emerging markets was where he wanted to be, so jumped at the chance to join the GEM Estates’ team. He now works on the Morocco and Egypt desks. Originally from Manchester, Sam moved down to southern Spain to join his brother, who waxed lyrical about his wonderful lifestyle and Sam wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Egypt, which will be covered in our next newsletter, is Sam’s top tip for the future. Not many people know about Sahl Hashish and its Norman Foster designed marina, but GEM Estates and Sam plan to bring it to the property investors’ attention.

Craig Mander – ‘El Genio del Web’ (The Web Genius)

Craig is GEM Estates’ IT Consultant and has been working in the IT & Marketing business for just over 10 years managing superbrand accounts such as Abbey National, The British Arm and BSkyB. Craig moved to the Costa del Sol in 2001 and quickly spotted the parallels between the real estate market and the advertising business. The former marketed lifestyle and dreams, the latter mortgages and pay per view TV events, but the principles were the same. Craig has built up a strong reputation within the overseas property sector and has aided some of the largest and best known companies on the Costa del Sol with their websites and customer communications. Craig spends his days furiously tweaking and optimizing the GEM Estates website to generate new business and to raise the profile of the Company. He is in the enviable position of being above criticism because noone else at GEM Estates understands what he does.

Contact GEM Estates now on info@gem-estates.com to find out more.

Author: GEM Estates
Date: 08/12/2006