Specialist real estate lender Mera Investment Management has appointed Antony Iannaccone as chief investment officer, strengthening its senior team as the business accelerates growth in 2026.
Iannaccone (main picture) brings more than 25 years’ experience across real estate lending, structured finance and property development.
He has held senior roles including director of structured finance at Topland and director of property at Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander, where he played a key role in restructuring and work-out activity.
In his new role, he will work closely with Mera’s origination and credit teams, providing strategic oversight of the loan book and leading the development and launch of the lender’s joint venture proposition later this year.
Iannaccone reunites with Mera chief executive Edward Matthews and Raj Bath, director of portfolio management, capital and reporting. The trio previously formed the core team behind Topland’s real estate debt funding platform, which deployed more than £1bn of capital.
FUNDING CAPABILITIES
Iannaccone says: “I am looking forward to working with this talented group of individuals at MERA who have collectively built great relationships and an enviable reputation in the industry, through endeavour, technical ability and enthusiasm.
“Furthermore, it is my goal to get our JV proposition up and running over the course of 2026, working with select partners to increase our funding capabilities and enhance the overall client experience at Mera.
“I’ve overseen in excess of £700 million GDV in JV projects during my career and will leverage that experience as Mera carves out its future product areas.”
EXPERIENCED LEADER
Edward Matthews adds: “Antony is one of the most experienced leaders in the sector, with deep knowledge of all asset types and structures across the capital stack. The team is evolving and has been strategically designed to support our expansion plans for the coming years.
“I am delighted to be reunited with Antony and Raj as Mera enters its next exciting phase of growth.”
His appointment follows a series of senior hires at Mera, whose loan book passed £100m in November 2025.
In December, the lender appointed Frank Pennal as non-executive chairman, Leo del Rosso as associate director and Alasdair Houghton as chief risk officer, bolstering governance, origination and risk management as it scales.
