About Us
Mark Glatman – Chief Executive
A solicitor by training, Mark has had extensive experience in the commercial property sector for over 29 years. Mark started in property at Baltic PLC where he became a main Board Director in 1985.
In 1988 Mark established the Akeler Group of Companies and over the next decade transformed the Group into a commercial real estate development business, focused on office and hi-tech industrial accommodation, during which time it developed over 4 million sq ft of commercial property. Mark sold the Group to a US real estate company, Security Capital European Realty in 1998 and by the time he left, Akeler had become the leading office park developer in the UK as well as being very active across Europe.
In 2000 Mark set up the Abstract Group of Companies to focus on property development and investment and venture capital projects.
Mark won the Property Week Property Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2007.
Christopher McPherson – Development Director
Chris is development director for the Abstract Group having worked closely with Mark Glatman in various capacities since the late ‘90’s. He has had extensive property experience since 1982, including property investment, development and asset management throughout the UK. Chris is a Chartered Surveyor.
After a directorship with Lambert Smith Hampton, Chris was one of the founders of Collier and Madge plc, a niche firm of chartered surveyors specialising in commercial property management. He was responsible for a wide range of institutional, property company and private clients.
During this time Chris also worked as a consultant to Mark Glatman’s previous company, Akeler, including, amongst other projects, letting responsibility for the latter phases of development at Doxford International Business Park, prior to joining the Abstract Group in a permanent role in 2007.
Chris’s experience with Abstract is varied, including an active role in developing the healthcare business as well as a number of other schemes currently in the pipeline. He has significant involvement in Abstract’s office developments in Scotland and Croydon and the Cavendish Quarter retail proposal for Dudley, as well as an ongoing role promoting and looking at new opportunities for the company throughout the UK.
Stephanie Miles – Finance Director
A member of Chartered Association of Certified Accountants, Stephanie has been with Abstract since its incorporation 12 years ago and worked as financial controller before taking on the responsibility of Finance Director in 2004.
Stephanie also worked with Mark Glatman at Akeler and has gained wide experience in the commercial property sector and deals with all other aspects of the finance position and the Abstract portfolio.
Floyd Carroll – Project Director
Floyd Carroll joined Abstract in June 2005 bringing over 30 years of continuous experience in the UK property and construction industry in the fields of commercial, leisure, regeneration, residential and community projects, with a sound craft-based technical knowledge and significant and varied project experience in Project Management, Employer’s Agent and Contract Administrator roles.
In his previous role with Davis Langdon, Floyd was a key member of their London Project Management Team and specialised in the commercial offices sector working for both developers and end users on various major City projects. His last 4 years at Davis Langdon were spent working closely with Abstract as an Employer’s Representative on both the 99 & 101 Queen Victoria Street development in the City of London and the 500,000 sq ft Middlesex Street office redevelopment scheme, as well as the first of two new 25,000 sq ft offices at Chatham Maritime.
On joining Abstract, Floyd went on to complete delivery and subsequent fit-out of the second of the 25,000 sq ft office schemes at Chatham, for tenants Lloyd’s of London. Floyd is responsible for assembling, appointing and directing full design and construction professional teams, taking projects from feasibility and planning stages through to procurement, delivery and post-completion including full occupier fit out.
Michael Gallacher – Development Manager
Michael joined Abstract in March 2013 as Development Manager and his primary role involves managing all the design, planning and construction elements of various projects, including liaising with clients, producing specifications and working up design proposals for developments.
His role also includes monitoring due performance by the contractor and the professional team during the building process. In addition, with a legal and quantity surveying background, he ensures the appropriate procurement routes are considered and selected to ensure a client’s goals are achieved on budget and within programme.
Michael previously worked for Davis Langdon (AECOM) for 8 years and has wide-ranging experience within the project management field. He has successfully delivered a number of project management commissions in the commercial offices, healthcare, education and residential sectors. Previously, Michael obtained extensive specialist experience in large-scale infrastructure and residential schemes when working in Libya.
Archie Blair - Development Manager
Archie Blair joined Abstract in June 2013, having worked for Mark Glatman’s Akeler Group in the 1990s, where he was responsible for managing the marketing, letting and sales of the Group’s property developments in Scotland, including Hamilton International Technology Park and Central Quay, Glasgow.
Archie is a qualified Chartered Surveyor with over 30 years’ experience in agency and commercial development and has held senior positions in private practice in both Scotland and the City of London. He currently sits on the Board of Argyll Community Housing Association as a non-executive Director.
He will be working closely with Mark Glatman and Chris McPherson in the delivery, marketing and letting of the Group’s Scottish projects.