JLL appoints head of Midlands; resi managing director joins Kier; BNP's Strutt & Parker hires from Sotheby's

Rachel Leung will succeed Stuart Smith as JLL's head of Midlands as the former takes up the role of head of EMEA industrial and logistics lender services. Leung, who joined JLL in 2022 as a director in the Birmingham project management team, will lead the firm's office in the city and "oversee operations across the wider region". Smith, who led the Midlands arm of the business since 2022, led JLL’s activity across the region, "strengthening the firm’s profile across multiple service lines". Simon Peacock, head of regions at JLL, added: "I am confident that Rachel will build on the strong momentum Stuart has created in leading and growing our Midlands business".

Kier Property, part of Kier Group, has appointed Alexandra Conway as managing director of its residential, private sector business. Conway joined in 2018, initially in the now sold Kier Living business before moving into Kier Property in July 2019 as a development manager. The company said Conway has played a pivotal role in establishing and leading the division’s strategic residential joint ventures, including the HGP and Vistry joint ventures. In her role on the property board, Conway will assume responsibility for its private sector residential joint ventures. Kier Property has a £3 billion gross development value pipeline.

Strutt & Parker, the national real estate agency owned by BNP Paribas Group, has recruited Claire Reynolds, a London real estate expert with more than 20 years' experience in London’s prime and super prime residential markets. Reynolds enters the newly created role of UK head of sales, residential, joining from UK Sotheby’s International Realty. In that role she was managing partner and "grew the business from a start-up to one of London’s leading luxury brokerages in just 18 months". She has also been co-head of prime central London at Savills, where she sat on the UK residential operations board. Reynolds will work closely with head of residential, Guy Robinson.

Avison Young has promoted James Pitt regional managing director for Leeds. Pitt, who has more than 30 years' experience in property development, urban regeneration and placemaking, joined the firm in May as a director in its place advisory team. He replaces Stuart Howie, who becomes principal and devolution delivery lead, a national role. Pitt began his career at JLL in the national offices team, before spending 12 years at Evans Property Group as development director, leading projects including the University of York’s Heslington Campus. Immediately before joining Avison Young, Pitt was regional managing director for Yorkshire and the North East at Muse Places.

Hammerson has hired Rob Wilkinson as chief executive who will succeed Rita-Rose Gagné. Wilkinson will join the board on 15 December as CEO-designate and will take up the role from 1 January 2026. He will take over from Gagné who is retiring from Hammerson in next year after five years, as the company announced in June Wilkinson will join Hammerson from AEW Europe, where he has served as the chief executive for more than 11 years. He joined AEW in 2009, initially serving as chief investment officer in Europe until he was appointed CEO. He brings 30 years' experience.

Tritax Big Box Developments, the development arm of logistics developer and investor Tritax Big Box REIT, has appointed Jonathan Wallis as managing director. A member of TBBD’s board and head of the Northampton office, Wallis will take responsibility for leading the day-to-day operations. Andrew Dickman will move into the role of chairman after three and a half years as managing director. Tritax described the move as a strategic transition, developed as part of the company’s long-term growth plan. Wallis and Dickman will inform the strategic direction of the TBBD business alongside fellow directors and board members, Tom Leeming and Will Oliver.

David North will replace Stuart Howell as Hartnell Taylor Cook managing partner later this year as the latter steps down from the role after 12 years. North will take on the role from the start of November having joined the company 25 years ago and working across agency and asset management disciplines, dividing his time between the Bristol and London offices. Howell will remain a partner and part of the senior management team, "with a focus on developing the company’s fast-growing portfolio of property and asset management clients", the firm added. During his time at HTC Howell helped the business to increase its revenue to £10.6 million.