Simon Brooks
About Simon Brooks
Simon Brooks serves as the Head of Balance Sheet Management at Investec, where he has worked since 2020. He has extensive experience in commercial banking, having held various leadership roles at Investec and Clydesdale Bank, contributing to significant growth in real estate finance.
Current Role at Investec
Simon Brooks serves as the Head of Balance Sheet Management at Investec since 2020. In this role, he leads a centralized team focused on supporting accelerated and sustained growth while managing concentration risk. His responsibilities include maximizing returns and reducing volatility within the balance sheet management framework.
Previous Experience at Investec
Prior to his current position, Simon Brooks held several roles at Investec. He was the Co-Head of CRE Origination from 2015 to 2019, and before that, he served as Team Head - CRE Loan Origination from 2013 to 2015. He also worked as Head of CRE Funding for a brief period in 2019 and as Director of CRE Origination from 2011 to 2013. Throughout these roles, he contributed to significant growth strategies and the stabilization of the real estate group post the 2008-10 Global Financial Crisis.
Experience at Clydesdale Bank
Simon Brooks began his career at Clydesdale Bank, where he worked as an Associate in Commercial Banking from 2004 to 2006. He also participated in the National Australia Bank Graduate Scheme in Commercial Banking from 2003 to 2004. His experience at Clydesdale Bank laid the foundation for his future roles in the financial services sector.
Education and Academic Background
Simon Brooks studied at Loughborough University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Economics with Human Geography from 1998 to 2002. His academic background provided him with a solid foundation in economic principles and geographical factors influencing financial markets.
Achievements in Real Estate Finance
Throughout his career, Simon Brooks has demonstrated significant achievements in real estate finance. He led initiatives that resulted in the growth of Investec's loan book from £200 million to £900 million. Additionally, he has directly originated senior, mezzanine, and equity positions exceeding £1.5 billion and acted as an Investec board member on successful equity co-participation joint ventures with a gross equity capitalization over £400 million across the UK and Europe.