Experience,
Creativity & Trust
Our leadership team and ever-growing Collective model is built on trust, experience, and a shared belief in doing things well. Led by Steve Thorne, with senior input from Sean Rafter, we combine creative depth with commercial clarity, offering clients thoughtful, execution-ready solutions grounded in real-world understanding.
We’re a niche, focused group with wide-ranging backgrounds in hospitality, development, brand, and strategy. What unites us is a commitment to delivering standout results - not just ideas, but outcomes. That means every perspective is valued, every angle considered, and every detail carefully shaped.
We work transparently, collaborate openly, and take pride in our ability to think clearly in complex spaces. It’s how we like to work, with each other, our clients and partners.
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Steve Thorne
FOUNDER
Steve brings over 30 years of experience across the hospitality sector, from launching boutique hotels and luxury serviced residences, to working with international brands and a range of accommodation concepts from short-term apartments and apart hotels to the luxury/five-start market.
As the lead at Thorne&Co, Steve drives the passion for realising the potential of new and existing property assets and bringing these to life.
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Sean Rafter
FOUNDER
Sean brings a background in design-led residential development, having built a strong reputation in West London through independent ventures and joint partnerships. Now focused on hospitality, he applies his expertise in brand creation and the strategic leveraging of intellectual property to elevate hotel concepts and unlock commercial value.
Sean’s connections with the worlds of professional sport, finance and property perfectly place him as an experienced steward for the Thorne&Co collective.
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Stephen Taylor
CREATIVE + DESIGN
In 1999, Stephen co-founded Heat Design and drives the company's creative vision, ensuring each project embodies the perfect blend of design excellence and strategic insight.
He is passionate about integrating design with content, ensuring the two elements work in complete harmony.
Stephen’s creative work includes commissions for Seacon Construction, Yacht Masters, Rothschild, and Smithfield.
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Jens Wittendorf
HOTEL OPERATIONS
With over 35 years running hotels in his native Denmark, Jens brings immense expertise when it comes to setting and operating multi-faceted hotel operations.
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Helen Mirren
INTERIOR DESIGN
Helen is an interior designer with a portfolio spanning luxury hotels and bespoke residences. She has collaborated on projects for brands such as Four Seasons, Rosewood, and Aman, bringing a balance of elegance, comfort, and contemporary flair to every space.
Known for her attention to detail and client-focused approach, Helen creates interiors that are both sophisticated and welcoming, designed to leave a lasting impression.
