Vita Group, the developer and operator of high-quality living spaces across the purspose-built student accommodation (PBSA), co-living, and residential sectors across 28 locations in 13 cities, has appointed Gareth Saynor to its executive board as Chief Legal Officer, effective June 2025.
Gareth joins Vita Group from international law firm CMS, where he has spent the past 18 years and has been a partner since 2013. Over his career, he has built a market-leading reputation advising on complex corporate transactions, restructurings and strategic investments.
“I’m honoured to join Vita Group at such a pivotal time. Having worked closely with the team over many years, I’ve seen firsthand the clarity of vision, ambition and culture that set the business apart. Strong governance will be essential as Vita continues to scale, and with its pioneering and proven model, this is a particularly exciting time to join the leadership team.”
Gareth Saynor, Chief Legal Officer and Executive Board Member, Vita Group
Vita Group has worked closely with Gareth for the past eight years, during which he has played a key role in several landmark transactions. These include Vita’s first-ever portfolio asset sale in 2019 – a £600m deal involving eight UK assets to DWS – and, more recently, the 2024 sale of two Vita Student residences in Barcelona to a fund managed by Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing (MSREI).
“As we continue to invest in our leadership to support our expansion across the UK and Europe, I’m delighted to welcome Gareth to the Executive Board. His legal expertise, strategic perspective, and deep understanding of our business make him an outstanding addition to our team. His appointment is vital as we build the leadership capability to deliver on our long-term growth ambitions.”
Mark Stott, Founder and CEO, Vita Group
In parallel, Vita Group bids farewell to Chief Financial Officer, Mick Slater, who has been with the business since 2014.
“Mick has been with Vita since our earliest days. He has been foundational in shaping the group into what it is today, and we thank him for his enormous contribution and wish him well in his next professional chapter.”
Mark Stott, Founder and CEO, Vita Group
