BKL hires investment expert; Bruce Gillingham Pollard adds leasing pro; Turner & Townsend new Europe boss

Retail capital markets expert Becky Hance has joined BKL Property Consultants. Hance, who was as most recently a director in the retail capital markets team at Colliers for more than a decade, joined this month, according to her LinkedIn profile. She qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 2012 and started her career at niche retail agent Briant Champion Long, which was acquired by Colliers in 2014. Hance has advised investors on in-town retail and leisure property, shopping centres, supermarkets and out of town parks. She said on LinkedIn: "I'm excited to have started a new role at BKL Property Consultants alongside some very well respected former and new colleagues."

Property investment specialist Bruce Gillingham Pollard has strengthened its leasing team with the appointment of Ben Sykes as senior surveyor and Kate Martin as graduate surveyor. Sykes joins from Green & Partners, where he worked on high street and shopping centre assets on behalf of institutional and private landlords. He said: “I’m really excited to join Bruce Gillingham Pollard and build on my experience within such a well-renowned team, working across some of the UK’s leading destinations.” Martin will support the team across retail and leisure instructions. The firm has promoted Alex Todd and Will Penfold to associate directors.

Turner & Townsend, the global programme manager majority owned by CBRE, has appointed Nima Nicolas Aase as regional managing director for Europe after more than a decade at the firm. He will advise on international and regional projects and cost management programmes, the business said. He will also work with teams across Europe to help expand the firm, strengthen client relationships and increase its capabilities in the region. Aase was managing director for the Nordics and was pivotal in helping to grow the business in the region, which included broadening its real estate capabilities and establishing teams in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland.

NorthCap, the investment, leasing and development property consultancy, has launched a Manchester office after hiring Scott Gemmell as a partner in the city. He will run the Manchester office, which becomes the fourth alongside hubs in Leeds, Sheffield and London. Gemmell joins from OBI, where he led the capital markets business for six and a half years. He has more than 25 years' experience in the UK investment market and began his career in London with M&G Real Estate. He also spent more than 12 years at JLL and worked for LSH before joining OBI. Partner Luke Symonds said: "His experience, focus and diligence are a natural fit for the business."

Newcore Capital, the UK social infrastructure investment manager, has named Beatrice Hollond as chairwoman. Hollond, who succeeds Andrew Baum, has more than four decades' experience across asset management, public markets, private wealth, charity and corporate governance. Her early career included more than 15 years at Credit Suisse Asset Management, finishing as managing director of global fixed income, having entered the financial services industry as an equity analyst at Morgan Grenfell. Baum transitioned to senior adviser in January. Newcore chief executive Hugo Llewelyn said: "Beatrice brings extensive and deeply relevant experience to our Newcore board."

Maya Capital, the specialist real estate investment management firm, has appointed Vanessa Benladj as director, capital formation and investor relations. Benladj joins Maya from Colony Investment Management, where she served as vice president, client relations and capital markets. She has more than 15 years of experience in capital formation, investor relations and real estate private markets, having worked with institutional investors, family offices and strategic partners across Europe and the Middle East. The firm described her as having extensive experience raising capital across the real estate capital stack, spanning both equity and debt strategies.

Cushman & Wakefield's head of EMEA hospitality, Jon Hubbard, is set to retire at the end of the month following a 40-year career in the commercial real estate industry. Hubbard, who joined Cushman & Wakefield in 2017, helped to grow the firm’s EMEA hospitality platform, both in terms of talent and geographical reach. Prior to joining Cushman & Wakefield, Hubbard spent more than 11 years at JLL in its hotel’s and hospitality team, most recently as head of investor services EMEA, according to his LinkedIn profile. Fred Le Fichoux, head of hotel transactions EMEA, will take over leadership of the team. He has more than two decades of experience with the firm.