David Forbes

After Savills bought his business, Chesterfields, in 2006, David Forbes soon realised clients needed a point of contact. ‘Chesterfields had 27 people. Suddenly Savills bought us and now there are 39,000 staff in 70-odd countries,’ he says. But Forbes is in an excellent position to comment on global trends, and now acts as the likely first port of call for banks and family offices.

Forbes is still actively helping Savills generate billions in opportunities annually. The head of its private office, Forbes makes himself available to UHNWs in their quest for ‘exceptional’ real estate – be it an island off the coast of Africa or a polo estate in Argentina.