Darren Freed has joined Prologis UK as a Director within the Real Estate and Customer Service team in a newly created role for the company. He joins the UK’s leading owner, developer and investor of logistics property with 20 years of experience in asset and fund management. Previously employed by
The Torbay-based Cavanna Group of companies has announced the appointment of Keith Miller as Group Chairman, replacing Jeremy Cavanna who becomes a non-executive director. The move marks the final part of a succession plan for the family business which was founded in 1923 by Jeremy Cavanna’s grandfather, PD Cavanna and
LEADING house developer, has recruited an industry-leading light to head up its sales and marketing team, continuing its impressive trajectory of growth in the North East as it expands its current portfolio of developments. Tracy Iles joins the team bringing more than 20 years’ new homes and construction experience to
Workman, the UK’s largest independent commercial property management and building consultancy firm, today announced further investment in its ESG team. The new hires reflect continued growth in demand for Workman’s ESG services and for specialist solutions to support the breadth of clients’ ever-increasing sustainability requirements. To date, the Workman ESG
Accomplished expert Lesley Anderson takes the helm at SPA A MAJOR player in Scotland’s thriving procurement sector has appointed renowned expert Lesley Anderson as its permanent head. Now she will drive the development of the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA), which has £1.1billion of contracts under management and is also delivering
Abloy UK has appointed Jason Boyce ASyl as the new Commercial Product Manager for Electronic Access Control, specialising in the Aperio access control solution. Aperio wireless devices from Abloy UK extend the reach of an access control system or replace mechanical locks with intelligent access control. They operate wire-free, so
Poole based Wyatt Homes has appointed Shaun Pettitt as its first ever external Managing Director, whilst founder, David Wyatt, transitions to Chief Executive. Shaun, 40, from Purbeck, Dorset joined the regional housebuilder last month (May) as it enters into a new phase of growth, marked also by the construction of
UK and Ireland specialist paving and building products company, AG has welcomed three new recruits to its growing workforce. AG Appoints new Head of Sales for Scotland UK and Ireland specialist paving and building products company, AG, has appointed James Jack as Head of Sales for Scotland. James brings with him over 25 years’
Leading UK build-to-rent provider Placefirst has appointed Anna Hwang as its new assets and strategy director, as the business moves forward with its ambitious growth plans. This is a new role and key addition to the senior leadership team for Placefirst. Anna joins with over 20 years’ experience in the
Salboy Group, the nationwide property development and funding company, has named Carmen Ching as the Group’s first Head of Sales. Carmen, a senior director at Salboy since 2020, becomes the first person to be handed a global remit to lead Salboy’s international sales strategy. For the last three years, Carmen
Darren Freed has joined Prologis UK as a Director within the Real Estate and Customer Service team in a newly created role for the company. He joins the UK’s leading owner, developer and investor of logistics property with 20 years of experience in asset and fund management. Previously employed by Aviva Investors as a Director of Real Assets, Darren successfully repositioned assets totalling £2bn assets under management across Aviva Investors’ real estate business. Specialising in commercial real estate development and JV stakeholder management, he was previously responsible for managing a range of asset classes in UK real estate and running a team of asset managers across a variety of funds. His new role will create and execute strategies to maximise income and capital returns and his experience will grow Prologis UK’s Asset Management team, with a focus on deployment of strategic business planning, placemaking, and value-add opportunities. Darren will also deploy these skills to ensure assets earmarked for redevelopment are capable of being converted to sites ready for capital deployment. This will target lifecycle asset management through repositioning older assets and working with the variety of stakeholders to drive occupancy, value, and NOI improvements. Prior to Aviva, Darren was formerly at Hammerson and JLL. Darren is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Torbay-based Cavanna Group of companies has announced the appointment of Keith Miller as Group Chairman, replacing Jeremy Cavanna who becomes a non-executive director. The move marks the final part of a succession plan for the family business which was founded in 1923 by Jeremy Cavanna’s grandfather, PD Cavanna and PD’s brother Ray. Whilst the business continues to be family owned and supported by a family council, all land and property operations are now managed by a professional team with Group Managing Director Grayham Tucker at the helm. Keith, 53, who joined the company in 2017 as Group Managing Director of Cavanna Homes, transferred to the role of Deputy Chairman on the appointment of Grayham Tucker in January this year. Keith said: “My appointment is the final piece of the jigsaw in a succession plan that began over 10 years ago. “Over three generations and 100 years, the Cavanna family has grown a successful and respected business. They are now placing their trust in me to continue the strategic growth of the business as it enters its second century.” Keith and three non-executive directors including Stephen Trusler, John Lougher and Jeremy Cavanna, will ensure the ongoing engagement between the business and the family – something they have placed a great focus on establishing during the role out of the succession plan. Keith said: “It’s important that the family ethos, which has held the company in such good stead for so many decades, remains at the heart of how we conduct our operations to grow the business.” Jeremy Cavanna said: “Keith has shown himself to be an outstanding leader over the past six years and has embraced the Cavanna family ethos which my grandparents established and grew alongside the business.” Group MD Grayham Tucker is already pressing ahead with the implementation of even higher standards of housebuilding across all of the company’s West Country development sites. He said: “We are already exceeding the sustainability standards set in the new building regulations and intend to go greener sooner by focusing our attention on the very best methods of modern construction, optimising energy-efficiency in our new homes and delivering biodiversity net gain. This is important for our customers and our shareholders, and vital for the planet.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LEADING house developer, has recruited an industry-leading light to head up its sales and marketing team, continuing its impressive trajectory of growth in the North East as it expands its current portfolio of developments. Tracy Iles joins the team bringing more than 20 years’ new homes and construction experience to the role. Before Lovell, she previously worked for four national housebuilders, working her way up from field sales manager to senior sales manager, before becoming sales director. She joins Lovell as its new sales and marketing manager, where she’ll be responsible for directing marketing initiatives to promote new developments and enhance sales. Tracy said: “I’ve worked in the property world for so many years now, but Lovell’s reputation for excellence has always preceded it. Following the North East region’s launch in 2021, the team has gone from strength to strength, and it’s exciting to get the opportunity to be a part of that.” “The North East region has an ambitious growth plan with a number of new sites coming to fruition across North Yorkshire, Durham and Tyne & Wear, and I’m looking forward to supporting the team during what is set to be an exciting time.” Tracy’s new role will also see her managing and recruiting sales staff and assessing land opportunities. Tracy said: “I’ve joined an incredible team committed to delivering homes of outstanding quality. I’ve been inspired by their enthusiasm, and I look forward to engaging with existing and new clients in the coming months”. Paul Devaney, regional managing director of Lovell Partnerships in the North East region, said: “At Lovell, we always aim to achieve and exceed the expectations of internal and external stakeholders, as well as our customers, by striving for a five-star house builder status. “This is because it’s really important to us to ensure that our house buyers are in a happy environment, and having the right staff members in place is a key part of that. “Tracy has a wealth of experience in the construction industry and is a great asset to our team. With her help, I’m looking forward to building on our success to date.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Workman, the UK’s largest independent commercial property management and building consultancy firm, today announced further investment in its ESG team. The new hires reflect continued growth in demand for Workman’s ESG services and for specialist solutions to support the breadth of clients’ ever-increasing sustainability requirements. To date, the Workman ESG team has delivered Net Zero Asset Plans for more than 5msq. ft of commercial real estate. Meanwhile, the ESG Project Advisor service is going from strength to strength, with more than 3m sq. ft of developments under action, £230m of which involves the refurbishment of existing assets. Jan-Hendrik Hoehnk, ESG Project Surveyor Bringing his architectural and project management skills, alongside an MSc in Sustainable Urban Development, Jan will help Workman to drive enhanced asset and project performance, specialising in the interface between the E, S and G. Understanding how the myriad of ESG requirements can be simplified into clear deliverable strategies is a key part of helping our clients achieve better-performing assets. Danielle Dinneen, Sustainability Consultant Danielle’s architectural background has enabled a thorough understanding of the role of whole-life carbon assessment within development projects. With her MSc in Green Building, Danielle will be leading on modelling whole-life carbon impacts as well as operational energy modelling, both of which are fundamental as part of decision-making through project delivery. Having Danielle’s expertise in-house will help inform carbon discussions at a much earlier project stage, enabling decision-making beyond just aesthetics and cost, while using modelling as a design tool rather than a simple tick-box exercise. Hedley Jones, Head of ESG, Refurbishment & Development, said: “We are investing in growing our team to ensure we’re able to support our clients to achieve their elevated sustainability goals. As investor requirements have extended beyond just meeting minimum sustainability standards, so the breadth of specialist services and creative solutions required has expanded. I look forward to working with our new team members Jan and Danielle as we deliver the next-generation ESG agenda for our clients.” Vicky Cotton, ESG Director at Workman LLP, said: “With the UK Net Zero Carbon Standard on the near horizon, today’s investors are looking for detailed energy modelling and whole-life carbon assessment, along with effective MEES planning to ensure competitive EPC ratings across their portfolios. The biggest driver is the requirement for evidence and disclosure, which requires us to understand and track energy intensity baselines, and then track performance against targets.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Accomplished expert Lesley Anderson takes the helm at SPA A MAJOR player in Scotland’s thriving procurement sector has appointed renowned expert Lesley Anderson as its permanent head. Now she will drive the development of the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA), which has £1.1billion of contracts under management and is also delivering a benefits scheme worth millions of pounds for local communities. Lesley, who has 27 years in the public and private procurement sector and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, said: “Our role in supporting the delivery of projects for public sector organisations is crucial in the growth of communities. “The projects procured through our solutions offer access to facilities and provides opportunities for children and adults of all ages to thrive within their improved surroundings. “SPA supports councils, housing associations, blue light services, the NHS, further and higher education providers and many other public bodies to build, maintain and refurbish vital social housing and public buildings. “Across the supply chain that means hundreds of Scottish SMEs get the chance to bid for and win lucrative work that creates jobs and employment across the country. “But the most rewarding part is that, as a proud not for profit organisation, we also put our surpluses back into the communities where we operate, through our innovative Community Benefit Fund, which enriches and improves thousands of lives. “It makes me incredibly proud to take up this role and to further this commitment to Scottish communities, our partners and to lead a team of people who consistently impress me.” SPA is Scotland’s largest free-to-join procurement organisation, ensuring its 120 partners can use its extensive frameworks to secure the works and services they need while being confident that the delivery is fully compliant and achieves value for money. It was founded in 2016 as the Scottish business unit of the LHC Procurement Group (LHC), which has been supporting public sector organisations across the UK with technical procurement expertise for over 50 years. That gives it insight at a local, regional and national level into the challenges and priorities for the public sector and it applies this knowledge to develop solutions that meet the evolving needs of its partners. Lesley, who joined SPA in 2017 has now been appointed Regional Director and will lead the 12-strong Scottish team, based in Livingston, West Lothian. They aim to further develop the suite of free, added value services offered to partners, including specialist technical, procurement and social value advisory support. Lesley’s team will also build on the successes of the SPA Community Benefit Fund (CBF), delivered by long-standing housing charity partner, Lintel Trust. Since 2017 the CBF has delivered more than £1.7million of grants and match funding to scores of community groups, charities and causes. Projects have included Holiday Hunger programmes, community gardens, employability initiatives, digital inclusion, apprenticeship support funds and specialist mental health services. These projects have helped improve the lives of at least 19,000 people while delivering social value of more than £3.9 million. LHC Group Managing Director, Clive Feeney said: “Lesley has an outstanding reputation within the procurement industry. Her impressive CV is backed up with a fantastic track record. “She’s already taken great strides in making sure we work more closely than ever with our partners to deliver exactly what they need and her commitment to delivering benefits to Scottish communities is firmly rooted. “I wish Lesley every success going forward in what is a very exciting time for SPA.” SPA’s 120 partners cover a diverse range of public sector entities from small cooperatives, regional and national registered social landlords (RSLs), as well as local authorities. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Abloy UK has appointed Jason Boyce ASyl as the new Commercial Product Manager for Electronic Access Control, specialising in the Aperio access control solution. Aperio wireless devices from Abloy UK extend the reach of an access control system or replace mechanical locks with intelligent access control. They operate wire-free, so battery-powered Aperio devices are fast and cost-effective to install and save money in operating and maintenance costs. Jason brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles, which include being a qualified electrician, working in the IP and telecoms sector, and 15 years in the world of enterprise access control before setting up his own business as an independent security consultant. He then began his career with Abloy as a Business Development Manager in the education sector, before being promoted. Jason’s new role sees him responsible for the product management and commercial success of Aperio. By combining his experience both in sales and as a consultant, he can identify client needs and help them overcome challenges with access control and security. When discussing what characteristics make him an excellent fit for the role, he said: “My background as a consultant has allowed me to take a step back and look at things differently and ask probing meaningful questions to find the best solution to a problem. “Often clients don’t know what solution they need, so we have to ask what issues they are trying to overcome and see things from a different perspective. Ultimately, we are a trusted advisor, but we also have the portfolio of products to resolve their problems.” Jason added: “I strongly believe in the Aperio system and the many benefits it offers a range of sectors, due to its flexible nature. I am looking forward to proactively creating a new strategy for how to market and communicate this. Our solutions are already very popular, but it would be interesting to take these into different verticals and identify where they can make a real difference.” Pat Jefferies, Commercial Director at Abloy UK, explains why Jason was the ideal choice for this role: “Having worked with Jason for the last couple of years, we identified an excellent opportunity to get somebody with his unique and varied experience into the role of Commercial Product Manager. “Jason has a strong vision of how to implement his strategy and new ways of working that will better position us in the market and service our customer’s needs. We are delighted to have him on board and are excited to see how he makes this role his own.” To learn more about Aperio and how it can help your business, contact Jason Boyce via email: jason.boyce@assaabloy.com. For further information on products and services available from Abloy, visit https://bit.ly/3MWQWdQ call 01902 364 500, or email info@abloy.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Poole based Wyatt Homes has appointed Shaun Pettitt as its first ever external Managing Director, whilst founder, David Wyatt, transitions to Chief Executive. Shaun, 40, from Purbeck, Dorset joined the regional housebuilder last month (May) as it enters into a new phase of growth, marked also by the construction of its own, purpose built office at its prestigious Rivers Edge development in nearby Wimborne Minster. With a background in town planning, immediate and strategic land acquisition, and more latterly as Managing Director for a national developer, Shaun is ideally placed to see operations through to the next chapter. He said, “I see it as a huge privilege to have been appointed as Wyatt’s first external Managing Director. “This is a key moment for the business as we look to further invest in scaling up our output over the next few years, whilst still maintaining the quality and high standards that the Wyatt brand is known for and that David has worked so hard to cultivate over the years. “With a shared ambition to build high quality new homes, I’m looking forward to being part of the next exciting chapter in our journey.” David Wyatt added, “This change in management reflects our plans to significantly grow the business and raise our profile. I’m confident that Shaun will be integral to helping us deliver our goals with the support of our exceptional team here at Wyatt Homes.” Wyatt Homes currently has new homes developments in Wimborne, Puddletown and Charminster in Dorset, Yeovil in Somerset and North Baddesley in Hampshire. The company has three new schemes to bring to market this year and is looking to expand its operational area further across the south coast. Its new head office will be ready by the summer of 2024 when the business will move from its current head office in Poole town centre to Wimborne. Shaun is married with four children and enjoys making the most of the Dorset coastline with his family whilst also coaching two junior football teams. For more information visit www.wyatthomes.co.uk.
UK and Ireland specialist paving and building products company, AG has welcomed three new recruits to its growing workforce. AG Appoints new Head of Sales for Scotland UK and Ireland specialist paving and building products company, AG, has appointed James Jack as Head of Sales for Scotland. James brings with him over 25 years’ experience in the construction industry, working across both the manufacturing and distribution sectors. Most recently James was Account Manager at Keyline, part of the Travis Perkins Group, where he managed the group’s Tier 1 contractors. Prior to this James was Head of Commercial Sales for GB at a manufacturing company and also spent 13 years at Jewson where he held a range of senior sales positions. James will be responsible for managing sales within the Scotland region. His role will be to engage with contractors, subcontractors and builders’ merchants as well as supporting general merchant/stockist activity and driving retail sales through this sales channel. AG Appoints new Digital Marketing Manager UK and Ireland specialist paving and building products company, AG, has appointed Stephen Gallagher as Digital Marketing Manager. Stephen spent the last 5 years working with Christies Direct as Marketing Manager where he was responsible for supporting the firm’s growth strategy through the creation of quality content, advertising and managing customer relations. Stephen will be part of AG’s marketing team where he will be responsible for planning and implementing AG’s digital marketing campaigns across a variety of platforms. AG Appoints new Specification Consultant UK and Ireland specialist paving and building products company, AG, has appointed Mark Toole as Specification Consultant. Mark brings with him a wealth of knowledge with over 25 years’ experience in the construction industry. His spent the last seven years working as a Senior Project Consultant for Marshalls where he was responsible for several key contractor accounts as well as managing its sales team. Prior to that Mark held various managerial positions including a Key Account Manager for Charcon. At AG Mark will be responsible for dealing with business enquiries for customers, working closely with clients through the product selection process. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading UK build-to-rent provider Placefirst has appointed Anna Hwang as its new assets and strategy director, as the business moves forward with its ambitious growth plans. This is a new role and key addition to the senior leadership team for Placefirst. Anna joins with over 20 years’ experience in the property sector and will be responsible for developing and executing Placefirst’s real estate strategy, which looks to build on recent success as the business aims to reach 6,500 homes in the coming years. Anna joins Placefirst from Savills, where she was director of operational capital markets for two years, consulting with clients to drive their strategy and achieve maximum growth. Prior to this, Anna was a partner at investment and asset management specialist Addington Capital. Anna joins at a pivotal time for Placefirst which has established itself as a leader in the single-family BTR market, both through existing award-winning neighbourhoods and an exciting pipeline of UK wide projects. This pipeline includes 122 apartments at Cow Green in Halifax approved in March, 146 homes at Benwell Dene in Newcastle submitted in April, and 366 units in Wolverhampton. Placefirst are also now on site in Bolton, delivering a 167 unit neighbourhood in partnership with the council. Commenting on her appointment, Anna said: “I am delighted to be joining Placefirst at such an exciting time for the business. Our position as an industry leader in the market is shown through a number of high-profile schemes currently being built or in planning, and it is important we continue to be influential in the industry and create communities where people are proud to live and rent for the long term, in an exciting and growing residential sector. I look forward to working closely with David and the wider team to deliver this next phase of growth which will see the business expand at an impressive rate.” David Mawson, chief executive officer at Placefirst added: “We are thrilled to welcome Anna to Placefirst, bringing with her over 20 year’s experience and knowledge of the industry. With Anna’s skills in strategy and asset management, this new role encompasses the ambition that Placefirst has and will help us to progress at a national scale. Our plan is to continue on our path in delivering best-in-class BTR communities and contributing to answering the huge demand for quality private rented accommodation across the UK.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Salboy Group, the nationwide property development and funding company, has named Carmen Ching as the Group’s first Head of Sales. Carmen, a senior director at Salboy since 2020, becomes the first person to be handed a global remit to lead Salboy’s international sales strategy. For the last three years, Carmen has been Salboy’s Head of Asia Pacific based in Hong Kong. Following her promotion and reporting to Simon Ismail, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Salboy Group, Carmen will continue to lead Sales in Asia from Hong Kong while directing a global sales strategy that is implemented across the world in Manchester, London, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and the Middle East. With 16 years’ experience in international residential property including leading the international residential team at Colliers, Carmen has developed a strong and vast client base across South-East and North-East Asia. Her experience of Western and Eastern working cultures, her expertise in investment advisory, and her multiple past successes in managing investor portfolios including block deals are all highly beneficial to international investors in UK property. Bringing her vast industry knowledge and wide-ranging skill set to her global strategic role, Carmen will be responsible for the success of the sales and marketing teams she leads not only across Asia but throughout the world where Salboy has a presence. Simon Ismail, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Salboy, comments: “Since we were lucky enough to welcome Carmen to the Salboy team in 2020, she has been instrumental in maturing our sales strategies, nurturing our teams and ultimately driving our growth across Asia. We are hugely excited that Carmen has accepted our proposal to lead our sales strategy on a global basis in the future and we look forward to seeing the impact she has on all our talented sales teams wherever they are in the world. “Ensuring that our sales process reflects how borderless the UK property market has become is essential. Our client base is hugely international in its reach as more international clients buy UK property not just for investment but as homes for their children while studying at first-class UK universities or as homes-from-home during extended business travel. A globalised, coordinated approach will help ensure our discerning clients experience a better, easier and faster service from us.” Carmen is supported by Salboy’s experienced senior management team, including Zann Quek and Benjamin Ashcroft. Zann brings 14 years’ experience as a UK and international property professional to her role as Head of Greater China and Regional Director following previous directorships at JLL, Knight Frank and Colliers. Benjamin joined Salboy in 2019 as Head of Marketing and has 17 years’ extensive experience in project marketing and branding in the UK, Asia and Middle East. Carmen Ching, Head of Sales at Salboy Group, adds: “Collaboration will be key to achieving our ambitious growth goals over the next five years. Salboy has over £1 billion worth of property currently in development in London, Cornwall and Manchester – all parts of the UK where the demand for high quality housing continues to outstrip supply. We need to continually expand our sales presence globally to ensure that buyers throughout the world have the opportunity to access Salboy property built where it is most needed. Working with Zann, Benjamin and the rest of our global sales and marketing team, I look forward to rolling out a strategy that brings together our collective knowledge and expertise to help us maximise the potential ahead of us.”