Ryden managing partner reflects on LSH deal a year on; Robertson Property names managing director; Robert Irving Burns hires

Ryden managing partner Alan Gilkison has told CoStar News about the tie-up with Lambert Smith Hampton and Stiles Harold Williams, just over one year in. Ryden added 15 LSH professionals to its Scottish offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen and transferred its English offices to Lambert Smith Hampton. The combined 130-strong Scottish business has continued to trade as Ryden and remains an independent limited liability partnership. He spoke to managing editor Paul Norman about how the deal first came together after a period of head-scratching about the best way forward for Ryden and why the company is thinking about more expansion across Scotland.

Katherine Mackintosh has been named managing director of Robertson Property. Mackintosh, who joined the firm from Highland Council in 2008, will lead the strategic direction of the business relating to its regeneration, masterplanning, asset management and development services. Projects being worked on by the firm, part of Scotland-based contractor Robertson Group, include the regeneration masterplan for Atlantic Wharf Butetown. Mackintosh's appointment comes as Robertson looks to expand its work with public and private sector organisations on masterplanning, town centre regeneration, housing and regional economic development across the UK.

Adam Jaffe has been hired as senior director of RIB Private Finance, a specialist real estate finance advisory launched by Robert Irving Burns this month. Jaffe has 25 years’ experience in the London real estate finance market, across lending, borrowing and asset management. He will work with RIB’s chief executive Antony Antoniou, who is experienced in investment management, structured funds, syndicated and co-investment products, working with RIB’s commercial and investment departments and family office Aspida Capital, of which he is managing director. Jaffe was head of commercial real estate at Market Financial Solutions, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Gary Higgins became interim CEO of BNP Paribas Real Estate in the UK this week after the agency announced its previous CEO Mark England was leaving the business after 40 years. Higgins, the managing director of Strutt & Parker, will hold the position while its board begins a formal succession process. Nico Keller, deputy CEO and head of capital markets in Germany, takes on the additional responsibility of interim head of UK advisory as part of what the firm called "planned changes" to its UK leadership structure. England's departure comes less than a year since he took on the top job in the UK, after stepping up from chief operating officer in October.

Colliers has recruited James Greenslade in its Bristol office, joining the firm’s national hotels agency team. Greenslade moves from Savills, where he started as a graduate and spent the last 14 years working in provincial UK markets. He joins Colliers as a director and will work with the firm's existing hotels experts Peter Brunt and Ed Jefferson. The UK team is led by head of hotels agency Julian Troup, who said: "[James] arrives with an outstanding reputation and has established himself as being one of leading UK hotel brokers. This is a further high profile appointment following the recent arrival of Alex Sturgess as we continue to expand our service offering."

Knight Frank has appointed David Churchill as partner in its planning team. He joins Knight Frank with 25 years of experience in securing large-scale planning permissions, having advised leading housebuilders, land promoters, institutional investors and landowners. Churchill will be based at the firm's Baker Street headquarters and will report to Chris Benham, head of planning, London. Churchill joins from Carter Jonas where he was a partner and will work with the firm's planning and land agency teams across the UK advising on strategic land and development opportunities, with a particular focus on green belt, greenfield, urban extension and garden community projects.

Cushman & Wakefield has appointed John Sullivan as a partner in its logistics and industrial team. Sullivan joins from Colliers, where he spent around a decade and most recently led the north west industrial and logistics team. According to his LinkedIn profile, he has worked in the industry since 1997 and also had spells at LSH and Knight Frank. "He brings extensive market knowledge and a strong track record advising occupiers, developers and investors across the region," Cushman & Wakefield said. Sullivan, based in Manchester, will work alongside James Lewis, who joined the firm last year to lead the north west logistics and industrial team.

Flexible workspace provider Mantle Space has named Rosie Dagnall as operations director. The company said she has a "strong track record in operational leadership, people development and business scaling", as well as experience in leading flexible workspace and hospitality brands. These include WeWork, where she worked across London and Manchester, according to her LinkedIn profile, in addition to Huckletree, LABS, ARC Club and Third Space. Dagnall will oversee the firm's operational strategy, systems and delivery across its portfolio. Alexandra Livesey, Mantle Space fractional MD, said: "Rosie brings a genuinely people-focused approach to operations."