OUR TEAM


Christopher King

Managing Director

Chris has over 30 years’ experience in real estate private equity; joint ventures; debt and equity origination and execution in public and private markets; corporate finance; and business development in the value-add and opportunistic space.

As a strong leader, effective negotiator and articulate communicator, Chris has an extensive track record of success across diverse situations including developments; corporate development; acquisitions; divestitures; restructurings; financing (including bond issues and IPO); project and asset management. Having started his career at Robert Fleming (subsequently acquired by Chase Manhattan/JP Morgan), he was Managing Director, Real Estate, for nine years. He then moved to London and Regional Properties (L&R) as Group Managing Director. During his eight years with L&R, he was involved in multiple acquisition and asset management initiatives in the hotel and leisure space (including the acquisition of the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane and Chewton Glen). He oversaw the management of two portfolios of Accors, the Strand Palace Hotel, Chewton Glen plus the Next Generation and David Lloyd Leisure businesses. His remit also focused heavily on healthcare real estate (acquiring the largest private hospital group in the UK) and development across all asset classes. Whilst at L&R, Chris managed the expansion of the firm to become one of Europe's largest private real estate businesses. In 2009, Chris set up his own company, Align Partners (previously CS Hotels) with recent successful projects including the Doubletree by Hilton Docklands Riverside Hotel, Croydon Park Hotel and Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa.


David Webster

Operations Director

With over 28 years’ experience, David is a hospitality leader specialising in building teams and transforming cultures and performance in a variety of properties from internationally branded city centre properties for Marriott and Hilton to leading European golf resorts such as Powerscourt Hotel, Carton House, Formby Hall and the Belfry. David’s most recent role was as Senior Operations Director managing 12 Hilton branded Hotels across the UK & Ireland.

His strong decision-making abilities, analytical and creative thinking along with building highly successful teams which deliver continuously improving results have led to his established reputation as a trusted leader in the Hospitality Industry. This combined with great people skills aligned with providing a strategic vision has produced outstanding sustainable results in a confident team-spirited environment. David is instrumental throughout each phase of our Investment Cycle. In particular, from an Operational Management perspective, David is an ever presence in the hotels, working closely with high performing General Managers/Resort Directors and their on-site senior teams/Heads of Department to ensure Business Plans are executed and best practice is shared and implemented within the functions. He hosts weekly meetings with the Senior Teams to ensure the right level of support and direction is in place, as well as full month-end reviews to assess performance and delivery against the Business Plan



Lisa King

HR and Development Design Director

Lisa has over 30 years’ experience working in HR, having started her career with an Insurance Company, then BSI, before moving to Investment Banking (Barclays Capital and CSFB) where she operated at global level, both as Generalist and in Project Management. Lisa also established her own HR Consultancy business, working with over 40 clients, ranging from large corporations (such as Yahoo and Tubelines), to hotels, spas, real estate, retailers, private family offices, family-owned businesses, and individuals.

As a highly qualified and experienced Human Resources Director, Lisa provides proactive, hands-on HR guidance and direction to the Hotels’ onsite HR teams. The longevity of her experience in HR means that she has comprehensively covered the entire scope of HR responsibilities, including change management in terms of organisational restructuring and redundancy programmes; recruitment and retention (including internship programmes); performance management; training and development (including employee onboarding and induction programmes); talent management (including promotion/career progression and succession planning); remuneration and benefits (including incentive arrangements); payroll efficiencies; scoping and implementing new HRIS; employee relations; documentation, policy and procedural reviews and development; and compliance with prevailing employment legislation and best practice.
Separately, Lisa studied at the KLC School of Design and is responsible for coordinating the design brief associated with the repositioning of projects, from concept stage through to implementation; CapEx planning and monitoring; appointing and managing Interior Designers; procuring FFE; negotiating and securing the best deals. Lisa was the key interface with the design team on the successful refurbishment project at the Doubletree by Hilton Docklands Riverside Hotel and the extensive refurbishment programme and master planning exercise (which successfully secured planning consent) at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa.


Angus Taylor

Investment and Structuring

Angus previously worked for Eastdil Secured, a real estate investment bank where he was responsible for underwriting a total of £3 billion of real estate acquisitions and financings. This included offices, hotels, retail, and logistics assets in the UK and across Europe.

Angus then left Eastdil to join London-based private equity firm, Brockton Everlast, where his role was focused on the acquisition of prime central London office assets as well as managing the existing Brockton Everlast and Brockton Capital portfolios, including the co-working platform Fora and the super-prime, Mayfair-based residential development, 60 Curzon Street.



Richard Dray

Property Director, Construction Management Director

Richard has worked for over 40 years in the refurbishment / fit out industry and, during this time, spent 22 years as director of hotels and leisure for Fileturn Ltd with an average turnover of £50m. Richard established and maintained excellent relationships with all clients, many of which all returned with repeat business. He left Fileturn in July 2020.

Richard then worked with Project Manager, Chandler KBS, looking after the £38m Hilton Park Lane refurbishment; the £17m refurbishment of the Hilton Brighton where he was client representative for the owners Topland; Haven Holiday Parks as client representative on several multimillion projects; and RBH management as client rep at The Met Hotel Leeds.
Richard worked for Red Sea Global in Saudi Arabia as director of FF&E / OSE procurement before joining the Align team.
Richard has extensive delivery experience including client team experience, which positions him well to manage at both levels and have a good understanding of both contractor and investor needs. He has worked with all major brands in 4/ 5-star properties.