Our Team
Thomas Hays
Founder
Thomas is a seasoned project developer, investment banker, and entrepreneur with extensive international experience in real estate, hotel development, finance, and sustainability-driven investments. He specializes in transforming client needs into high-impact projects by assembling expert teams, securing funding, and ensuring successful execution - on time, within budget, and to the highest standards throughout the project lifecycle.
As Founder of Emerald Development Group, Thomas has overseen global real estate development, investment, and project management. His leadership has driven the success of many projects and ventures notably a U.S. multi-family real estate portfolio yielding a 3x return and an award-winning boutique hotel in Marrakech, recognized among the world’s top new luxury destinations by Travel + Leisure.
As Co-CEO of Living Seas, a global leader in technology focused, sustainable aquaculture, Thomas led a team of 20+ experts in technology, biology, and operations to expand integrated production capacity to 136,000 metric tons per year and over $2 billion in investment capacity. He also spearheaded a comprehensive sustainability impact assessment, benchmarking Living Seas against and ahead of competing technologies and the broader seafood and food production industries.
His finance expertise includes developing a disruptive leveraged ETF solution for TruShares Inc., structuring equity, interest rate, and FX derivative products at Bankers Trust in London, and managing cross-border financings at Merrill Lynch Capital Markets in New York.
Thomas holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, with a focus on finance, marketing, and international business.
Mark Ferris
Partner
Mark is a passionate and experienced large scale, international, luxury real estate, asset, project, and operations manager with over 33 years of extensive expertise.
Over the past 23 years, Mark has managed the real estate, asset holdings and family office affairs of ultra-high net worth middle eastern dignitaries and Royalty with assets in Morocco, Qatar the USA and Europe. He oversaw the development, construction, renovation, operational reorganization and optimization of a portfolio of large-scale, luxury commercial and private real estate cluster projects, palaces and assets including the development and management of its expansive staff, associates, and key stakeholders.
Previously, Mark managed part of the real estate holdings of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Jordan, where he oversaw the construction and renovation of multiple properties and associated infrastructure, whilst managing ongoing operations and overseeing more than 150 employees and associates.
Mark has a strong entrepreneurial and business development drive. He provides operations expertise, consultancy and project development advice to family offices, investment bankers, asset managers and several information services companies seeking to connect clients with experts. Mark advises across a broad range of investment interests and operational sectors from large scale luxury hospitality, property, and estate management to commercial project development.
Earlier in his career, Mark held senior management roles in the high-end hospitality industry featuring some of London’s most iconic hotel and dining venues, as well as luxury sustainable resort development and management projects in the Caribbean. Mark holds a degree in hospitality from the City & Guilds of London Institute.
Bruce Ostroff
Partner
With extensive experience in real estate and hospitality, Bruce specializes in real estate advisory, finance, asset management, and construction. His expertise encompasses managing large-scale projects, guiding them from feasibility through to completion. Bruce has a diverse background that enhances his understanding of various real estate assets, including hospitality, multi-family, commercial, and retail sectors.
For 20+ years Bruce has been providing comprehensive development and construction management services to owners and developers, ensuring optimal cash flow and return on investment for his clients. His role involves overseeing pre-construction phases, coordinating with architects and engineers, and supervising construction activities. Bruce has worked on the developer’s side in the owner’s representative role as well as in the construction manager and general contractor role giving him a unique perspective on the entire construction lifecycle.
Bruce’s commitment to excellence is reflected in his leadership, project management, and communication skills, fostering positive relationships with all stakeholders.
Notable projects include the 1 Hotel Central Park redevelopment for Starwood Capital, the redevelopment of the New Yorker Hotel, the new Core Club New York for SHVO, the most exclusive private club in NYC, and the Astoria West residential development for Cape Advisors.
He graduated with an Economics degree from Cornell University and holds an MBA from New York University. He started in the hotel real estate sector consulting and appraising properties with Hospitality Valuation Services. There he performed vital appraisals and market studies of hotel assets for acquisition, disposition and legal disputes.
Oliver Ontiveros
Partner
Oliver Ontiveros is an accomplished real estate and private equity professional with over 30 years of experience spanning European and emerging markets. Experience includes Chief Investment Officer role at SLP International, a Canadian investor, developer and operator where he led a $1.4 billion AUM portfolio, focusing on innovative smart living properties in some of the world’s most dynamic urban centers. Under his leadership, SLP International has expanded its operations to London’s prime Zone 1 market and is establishing operations in the U.S.
Oliver's career is distinguished by his deep expertise in real estate private equity, fund management, and energy transition. Earlier in his career Oliver trained as an analyst at Merrill Lynch and gained substantial experience in sales and trading at Global Investment Holdings in New York. His career also includes several years as a merchant banker in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, working with Regent Pacific Group on high-profile investment projects. Further experiences include real estate developments in India, the UAE, Nigeria and Europe. He also worked on the development of a 200MW Battery Energy Storage System project in the UK as a finance and operations advisor (M&A and private equity).
In addition to his professional achievements, Oliver holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and has furthered his education at the prestigious Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His academic background complements his extensive experience, providing a strong foundation for his strategic decision-making in complex, global markets.
Born in the United States and raised in Malaysia, Oliver has lived in numerous countries across Asia, Europe, and North America, giving him a truly global perspective. He is also a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS), underscoring his professional credentials in real estate.
Oliver’s unique blend of international experience, educational background, and deep industry knowledge positions him as a leading figure in the fields of real estate and private equity, with a particular focus on energy transition and sustainable investments.
David O’Hara
Partner
With over 25 years in the luxury hospitality industry, David O'Hara has a rich background in managing high-profile projects worldwide. Most recently, serving as the Director of Project Services for Rosewood Hotel Group. In this role, David played a pivotal part in leading the technical & operational integration of 3 hotels and casino for a large-scale integrated resort in Vietnam, Hoiana, with a build budget of US$1.3bn.
Overseeing design implementation, service & space planning, concept development, and ultimately ensuring maximized outcomes for 3 hotel brands (+1,100 keys) and the casino (+10,000 sqm). He ensured the brand’s integrity throughout the development, construction and handover phases, acting as the central point of communication for the owner (Chow Tai Fook), corporate hotel team (Rosewood Hotels & Resorts), the onsite Project Director (HASD) and facilitating seamless coordination on-site (consultants and contractors).
Before joining Rosewood Hotel Group, David held senior positions at renowned establishments in Thailand, Dubai and Maldives, where he honed his expertise in project management, design coordination, and operational excellence. His extensive experience and leadership have been instrumental in the successful opening and management of several luxury properties, contributing significantly to brand expansions and reputations for excellence.
David holds qualifications in Project Management and LEED accreditation, providing strong foundations for delivering projects end-to-end. His commitment to achieving the highest standards of quality and his ability to navigate and resolve complex project dynamics make him a valuable contributor to any project.