One of the best-known figures in the UK's private investment office industry has taken up a role with a "property family office".

RFR, the property family office, has appointed William Drake, a familiar figure in the wealth management space, as a senior advisor.

Drake will advise RFR’s board on management and strategy as well as playing an active role in further developing the firm’s reputation within the wider private wealth management world.

In 2000, Drake co-founded Lord North Street, the private family office, and last year that organisation merged with Sandaire, of which he is now vice chairman, creating one of the largest multi-family office businesses in the UK and Europe. Drake is also a member of this publication’s editorial advisory board and has been a judge for its European wealth management awards.

RFR was founded by Richard Rogerson, a former partner at Macfarlanes, and Sophie Rogerson, a former City lawyer.

“Since the merger of Lord North Street and Sandaire, I have been considering a number of roles which would complement my ongoing role as a senior advisor to Sandaire. I am delighted that the first of these roles will be at RFR.  There are so many echoes of Lord North Street in RFR’s approach, not least a business model designed to avoid conflicts of interest and a service that sits entirely on the client’s side of the table,” Drake said.

RFR provides services such as property search, investment, interior design and management of assets. It is based in London.