Duncan Garrood in

Duncan Garrood

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Chief Executive Officer at Riverstone Living
📍 London Area, United Kingdom

Duncan Garrood is a multi-role executive, serving as CEO of Empiric Student Property and Chairman of Tortilla Mexican Grill. His extensive career includes senior roles at Unilever, Punch Taverns, and Bills Restaurants. Educated at Imperial College London, he is passionate about delivering results through exceptional customer experiences and highly motivated teams.

In his youth, Duncan was an avid reader and enjoyed sports, even captaining his basketball team. His professional life shows a clear passion for the food, beverage, and hospitality sectors, demonstrated by his leadership roles and his chairmanship of the Small Beer Brew Co. , an independent low-alcohol brewer.

Interesting fact: Duncan holds a PhD in Biochemistry from Imperial College London, a unique academic background for a leader in the property and hospitality industries.

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Experience
43 Years
Current Role
Chief Executive Officer
Job Level
Leadership
Location
London Area, United Kingdom
Personality Overview

How Duncan shows up

Communication Style
Decision Approach
Work Preference

Behavioral traits and communication patterns that shape how this person evaluates opportunities, builds trust, and makes decisions in professional settings.

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Priorities

Topics Duncan cares about

Customer Experience
His focus is on "delivering stellar results through great and memorable Customer Experiences" and fostering highly valued and motivated teams to achieve this.
Student Property Sector
As CEO of Empiric Student Property, a £1 Billion+ FTSE 250 portfolio, he frequently speaks on the challenges and strategies within the UK student accommodation market.
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Career

Work history

2-2026
Chief Executive Officer
Riverstone Living
12-2025
Chairman
Tortilla Mexican Grill plc
6-2024
Senior Independent Non Executive Director
The Brighton Pier Group PLC
5-2022 - 5-2024
Senior Business Advisor
Blue Crescent Capital
9-2020 - 2-2026
Chief Executive Officer
Empiric Student Property plc
In the press

Media appearances

Tortilla Mexican Grill PLC Appoints Duncan Garrood As Non‑Executive Chair. Featured in Reuters
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Education
1977 - 1983
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
Imperial College London
1970 - 1977
A levels
Westcliff High School for Boys
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

DISC behavioral profile

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