Duncan Firth, 46, has been promoted to managing director of Walker Sime, the large regional property consultancy with offices in Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds. Founders Des Walker and Jon Sime have assumed new roles focusing on quality, governance and client relationships.

Firth joined the business in 2015 tasked with establishing its project management division.  This followed a successful consultancy career which included delivering the City of Manchester Stadium in time for the Commonwealth Games and a period as a director of Deloitte where he delivered a number of key pieces of infrastructure for the London Olympics.

“We have a unique culture here that places our clients and our staff front and centre and it will be more of the same,” says Firth of his early priorities. 

Walker Sime has 85 employees and a turnover approaching £8m per annum.  The company offers quantity surveying, project management, construction design management, bills of quantities and commercial consultancy services.

Current projects include Walker Sime’s role as project managers on Peel’s giant Liverpool Waters scheme; as advisors on Ask Real Estate’s emerging Medlock Street mixed use scheme in Manchester and as cost consultants on Leeds Bradford Airport in Yorkshire.

Mark Parker has been promoted internally to fill Mr Firth’s previous role as director of the company’s project management division.