Longevity Partners, a leading energy and sustainability service provider for some of Europe’s largest property funds, is extending its reach into France after the country’s recent emergence as a sustainability leader.

The Longevity Partners Paris office opens this June under the management of Stephane Carpier, who is taking on the role of Managing Director for France and Benelux.

Stephane joins Longevity from Gecina, one of the largest REITs in Europe, where he was the Technical Director responsible for the sustainable management of their portfolio. Over the last 7 years, Stéphane and his team led Gecina to the highest levels of sustainability according to extra financial rating schemes such as GRESB, CPD, EPRA and DJSI.

In just three years, Longevity Partners has grown from being a boutique advisory company to a leading service provider for some of Europe’s largest property funds. During this time, the company has trebled its turnoverand corporate client base. They now represent more than €12bn of commercial real-estate in 15 European countries advising on issues such as resource efficiency, renewable energy, wellbeing in the workplace, biodiversity and on the way companies integrate sustainability goals into business strategies.

“Strategically, this expansion into mainland Europe is the best move for our clients and gives Longevity Partners a great opportunity to reinforce our existing presence in the French market with our unique know-how”, explains Etienne Cadestin, Longevity’s founder and Managing Director.

“We have seen significant demand for our services in France and are excited to continue our expansion efforts with the opening in Paris and are thrilled to have Stephane Carpier join the Longevity Partners’ management team”.

Longevity is opening offices in France in 2018 and Germany in 2019 in response to their pan-European client demand and are looking to expand into the US and Singapore in 2020. Their aim is to support clients across the world to innovate and maximize resource productivity to achieve net zero carbon, build economic and social resilience to climate risks.

Longevity Partners was set up in London in 2015 by Etienne Cadestin, a French native, after spending five years at Knight Frank and two years at the UN Environment Programme. Longevity Partners’ existing French clients include Redevco, Hammerson, Dassault Systems, Cromwell Property Group, Fidelity, CBRE Global Investors and Frey.

Stephane Carpier said: “Under President Macron, France is stealing a march on sustainability. The country is taking leadership on the issue of climate change and the French market presents a major opportunity for agile, progressive businesses like Longevity. Our pan-European clients have shifted their focus on delivering sustainable solutions across their portfolios and we are best placed to deliver for them.

“Property investors and more generally large companies consider rightly the urgent need to put forward their social and environmental responsibility. This general movement is a remarkable opportunity for Longevity Partners in France who provide tailored and strategic solutions to improve the environmental impact of property assets.”

Etienne Cadestin said: “I am extremely excited to have a sustainability professional of the caliber of Stephane joining the business. He brings amazing experience but also a real understanding and commitment to change the built environment approach to climate change.”