Cushman & Wakefield's UK and Ireland CEO on first months
Ben Cullen stepped up to one of the biggest roles in UK real estate in July last year, when he became chief executive UK and Ireland for Cushman & Wakefield. Since then, he says, brokerages' relationships with AI and technology have moved the industry to a "different stage".
CoStar News caught up with him to find out what he has learned so far, and hear about his and Cushman's ambitions for the advisory giant, which he joined as a graduate in 2001, before moving ont o international partner in 2016 and then head of offices, UK, in 2021.
In the exclusive interview, Cullen provides key lessons he has learnt from his time working in commercial real estate. He is celebrating his 25th anniversary with the business this year.
"What I say is the important thing is always to give coherent advice and communicate clearly. You must listen really well and distil that into something useable and put it on paper to express simply." He adds: "In terms of the best advice I had it was 'be reliable before being the best'."
Panattoni sets out leadership transition in Iberia
Panattoni has appointed Arantxa Prado as interim managing director for Spain and Portugal after Gustavo Cardozo Lupi left. The departing leader, who spent six years leading the firm in Iberia, is credited with playing a pivotal role in establishing and expanding the company's presence in the region. Prado takes over having joined the firm from Eneas Alternative Investments in 2020, as senior director capital markets. The firm said she has helped to structure and execute capital market actions, as well as support its growth across the countries. She also spent around six years in Hong Kong, leading the Asian Secondary Investment Fund across Europe and Asia.
Montagu Evans hires partner to valuation team
Montagu Evans has recruited Cecilia Fellows to its valuation, asset and investment advisory team in its latest partner hire this year. Fellows joins from Carter Jonas, where she led its asset valuation team, bringing more than 20 years' experience advising local authorities, public institutions and corporate clients, including extensive experience working closely with local councils across complex portfolios. The firm said she will help grow its local authority mandates, increasing the firm’s third sector, higher education and transport clients, and supporting the advisory department capability overall. Other partners hired this year include Peter Jacob and Christian Glazier.
Avison Young adds director in London office leasing team
Avison Young has appointed Steve Lydon as a director in the firm’s London office leasing team. The global consultancy said Lydon will help form and deepen relationships with Asian investors holding London assets and those seeking to invest. He joins from Millennium Group, where he has been a general manager since 2023 in its Singapore office. Lydon has also held roles at Lambert Smith Hampton and Allsop, where he worked on both agency and capital markets over a 10-year period. James Walker, head of London office leasing at Avison Young, said in a statement: "It’s fantastic to have Steve join and continue the growth of our London leasing team."
CBRE makes changes at the top of European loan services
Global real estate advisor CBRE has promoted Clarence Dixon to chair of European loan services from 1 June, with Dean Harris also becoming the firm’s European head of loan services. Dixon has led CBRE’s loan services business since 2013 and is described as being "instrumental in the growth of the platform". Harris joined CBRE as an executive director last year. Prior to this, he spent five years leading Trimont’s EMEA advisory and servicing business. He has worked in financial services for 30 years and has more than 20 years of real estate lending experience, with a proven track record in loan portfolio management, credit analysis, debt restructuring and recovery.
Rapleys hires partner to education and charities team
Rapleys has expanded its education and charities team with the hire of Sam Van de Velde as partner. He joins from Knight Frank where he worked for nine years, starting as a residential graduate surveyor through to leading on numerous transactions as associate partner. He will work alongside partners Adam Harvey and Graham Smith, church property specilaists, expanding the team’s capacity to deliver education transactions and valuation advice to schools and universities. Also this week Rapleys added staff to its hospitality team, with Sam Gough joining as associate partner and Imogen Bellfield as senior surveyor from Avison Young.
JLL veteran lands advisory role at property branding expert
Experienced broker Jeff Pearey has joined Leeds-based property branding firm agency4D in a consultancy role. Pearey, who left JLL after two decades last summer, has been named on the business's advisory board. He started in March, according to his LinkedIn profile. The firm said his "experience, perspective and understanding" of the commercial property market would be "invaluable" to its growth ambitions and long-term strategy. Pearey, who has 40 years' property experience in total, stepped back from his role as JLL senior director, UK regional office agency at the end of August, when he left the firm. He joined in 2006 as the firm's only Leeds-based director.