The appointment follows the company’s takeover by the Texas-based private-equity firm TPG in a deal reportedly worth about €200m.
Quintain had been owned by Lone Star, another US private equity firm which is keeping control of their Cherrywood development project. The TPG transaction includes existing sites and ongoing projects in Adamstown, Clonburris, and Portmarnock.
In an announcement Quintain said that Mr O’Buachalla has over 23 years’ experience in real estate finance, covering both the commercial and residential sectors, and a variety of ownership structures, including listed and private equity.
He joins from McGarrell Reilly Group, a family owned property company, where he was also CFO. Between 2014 and 2019, Mr O’Buachalla was chief financial officer for Green Reit. In that time it was acquired by the private-equity real-estate firm Henderson Park, which he joined following the sale.
Mr O’Buachalla has also been CFO with Burlington Real Estate and Treasury Holdings, and began his career with Arthur Anderson.
In a statement, Quintain said its partnership with TPG will provide the additional capital and resources required to support the next stage of the company’s growth as it seeks to expand housing delivery. It has a landbank that can accommodate more than 7,700 new homes in the greater Dublin area.
The company says it has delivered more than 2,300 homes since 2015 across Dublin.
Michael Hynes, Quintain’s chief executive, said: “We are thrilled to have Niall join our executive team. His financial expertise, industry experience and strategic insight will be invaluable as we continue to deliver high-quality developments and seek to double our housing output to 1,500 units a year.
“With TPG’s support and investment, we are determined to increase our delivery rate and explore further land acquisitions.”
Mr O’Buachalla said he was delighted to join Quintain at this “exciting time in its growth journey”, and added: “With a strong pipeline and strategic focus on high-quality residential projects, Quintain is well-positioned to help address the critical housing need in Ireland and deliver sustainable and well-served communities.”