Boxwood Property Fund is proud to announce the appointment of Sara Divaris as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). At 29 years old, Sarah is one of the youngest COOs in the sector, but brings an exceptional depth of experience, expertise and innovative approach.
With a Business Science degree in Finance and Economics and the prestigious CFA Charterholder designation, Sarah's combination of financial acumen, strategic thinking and creative talent has helped shape Boxwood's trajectory. I did.
Sarah and Boxwood's journey began eight years ago. At the time, Boxwood was in its infancy and lacked assets and formal organization. Despite the uncertainty, Sarah was drawn to the vision of building one of the largest private real estate portfolios in the country under the guidance of his CEO Rob Cain and Chairman John Oliphant and is committed to the journey. I did.
In her early years, she was involved in planning, financing, and driving the company's first major acquisition. As the company has developed, her responsibilities have expanded and now span strategic and operational initiatives to manage and grow Boxwood's R3 billion real estate portfolio across sectors and geographies. .
Sarah's multi-faceted approach is evident in her ability to handle tenant liaison, lease negotiations, development work, acquisition selection, feasibility, and due diligence. In particular, her commitment to increasing value was demonstrated in her first landmark project, the regeneration of a mixed-use asset in central Cape Town, which resulted in her first increase in property value within 12 months. Achieved a 31% increase.
Sarah's ability to blend financial expertise with the creative demands of the real estate business is truly remarkable. According to her, creativity is essential in all aspects of asset management, from coming up with innovative solutions to attract tenants to redeveloping previously unloved buildings. Sarah has particularly enjoyed the design aspects of the Boxwood redevelopment, which has helped deliver a lively food market and quirky yet sophisticated common areas. She collaborates with architects, interior designers, design students, and local artists to incorporate public art installations and integrates quirky architectural elements to create visually distinctive properties.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Sarah is passionate about fostering entrepreneurship in South Africa. This is evident through her partnership with UCT organization Pafama, which she started to provide support and funding to entrepreneurs in Khayelitsha. Additionally, she is passionate about developing young real estate professionals and contributes to Boxwood's workforce development and diversity.
As the new COO, Sarah's leadership philosophy is centered around collaboration, empowerment, and alignment with Boxwood's strategic goals. She is committed to driving innovation, developing talent and shaping the future of women in real estate.
CEO Rob Kane added that this promotion is completely well-deserved and that Boxwood looks forward to a dynamic and successful future under Sarah's capable leadership.