Henderson makes move to Luna Students
The student accommodation arm of Leeds property group Torsion has brought in Stuart Henderson as operations director.
Henderson joins the group as a business partner and shareholder, working alongside group chief executive Dan Spencer; Torsion COO David Worsley; Miles Dearden, Torsion Group Legal Director; and Louise Bena, group CMO and managing director of Luna Students.
Torsion said the appointment underscores Luna’s commitment to driving operational excellence, supporting student wellbeing, and setting new standards within the purpose-built student accommodation sector.
Henderson, who takes up his new role in December, will drive initiatives to streamline operational processes, integrate tech, and enhance the student experience, driving sustainable growth and expansion for the business.
He brings to the role more than a decade of experience managing large-scale student accommodation portfolios across the UK, Ireland, Germany and Spain. He has spent the last two years with Mys, prior to which he worked for the Student Housing Company.
Luna MD Louise Bena said: “This move is a significant milestone for Luna, representing a leap forward in our dedication to operational efficiency and enriching student experiences.
“His strategic vision and extensive experience will drive our mission to offer high-quality, trusted services that support both student success, operational partners and joint venture partners.”
Luna is in growth mode: it manages around 3,000 operational beds, with an additional 297 beds under construction with Torsion Developments and more than 3,200 in the pipeline.
Well established in Leeds in particular, the group has schemes in Nottingham, Warwick and Birmingham inked in for completion in 2025.
Henderson said: “I’m pleased to join Luna Students at this dynamic time for Torsion Group and the broader living sector.
“Luna is attracting top talent from within and beyond our sector by keeping our values at the heart of everything we do. This approach allows us to deliver something truly distinctive for our residents and partners.
“As the PBSA landscape evolves, I look forward to driving innovation that provides safe, engaging, and fully managed living experiences tailored to the unique needs of today’s students.”
Luna was rebranded from Torsion Students in 2023. Torsion as a group has been operating since 2015.
Early this year, Torsion formed a £147m joint venture with London-based investment vehicle Zenzic, as the latter party made its entry into PBSA. The JV covers an initial five schemes, all Luna-operated projects.
In September, development finance provider Atelier backed a 205-bedroom Luna project off Leeds’ Kirkstall Road with a £30m package.
