WeWork and Halkin leaders join FlexSA board
The Flexible Space Association, the UK’s trade body for the flexible workspace sector, has appointed two members to its board of directors, WeWork general manager UK and Ireland Natalie Lovett and Jonathan Kingshott, chief executive of Halkin.
Lovett has spent the last six years at WeWork and "brings a breadth of experience in financial management, operational leadership and strategic asset portfolio oversight," the group said.
She said: "My experience at WeWork has given me a front-row view of how the sector’s resilience is strengthened by the success of its entire ecosystem, including the smaller operators whose specialised offerings enrich and diversify the market."
Kingshott has more than 20 years of experience in commercial real estate and flexible workspace, having led Halkin since it was founded in 2015. He said: "It felt like a natural moment to join FlexSA as Halkin continues its own growth, and I look forward to sharing practical insights around operational excellence, business growth and market opportunities as the industry enters its next chapter."
The FlexSA Board oversees the direction of the association, monitors its finances and takes decisions on matters of significance. Board members are directors of the association and serve for a four-year term. The new appointments follow 2025 board elections in which FlexSA members voted.
Norges names co-heads of Europe real estate
Norges Bank Investment Management has appointed two existing employees with around two decades of combined experience at the company as co-heads of Europe real estate, Jayesh Patel and Guilain Decrop. The pair confirmed in separate LinkedIn posts that they will share responsibility for leading the real estate division in Europe, starting this month. Patel was appointed head of UK real estate in 2016 and joined the firm from Sabal Finance Group. He has also held positions at Aerium Finance and Deloitte. Decrop joined Norges Bank IM in September 2015 and was previously head of continental Europe before being named co-head of Europe real estate.
Shepherd and Hardies announce 10 promotions
Shepherd and Hardies have promoted 10 of their staff across the UK. Promoted to partner are commercial surveyors Emily Anderson (Edinburgh), Liam Louden (Ayr) and James Morrison (Aberdeen) and residential surveyors Craig Nicol (Aberdeen) and Ian Young (Dumfries). Promoted to associate are commercial surveyors Alasdair McConnell (Stirling) and Calvin Molinari (Glasgow), residential surveyors Dean Bremner (Edinburgh) and Douglas Cramb (St Andrews), London-based building surveyor Jane Beacham and Glasgow-based quantity surveyor Casey Boyne. "Investing in our people remains at the heart of our strategy," said Ian Fergusson, senior partner.
Newmark hires Cardiff-based leisure partner
Newmark has appointed Peter Constantine as a partner in its UK leisure team. Based in Cardiff, the firm said he has extensive expertise working on pubs and licensed premises, as well as broad experience across holiday parks, golf courses and visitor attractions. "His specialist skill set combines valuation consultancy with agency work, offering a comprehensive approach for leisure sector clients," it added. The firm said Constantine will draw on his long-standing relationships across the sector and his technical proficiency to help expand its leisure service nationwide. He joins from Avison Young, where he was head of leisure and spent just under seven years at the business.
Mileway promotes duo to co-heads of real estate
Mileway, the European last-mile logistics specialist, has appointed Andrew Jones and Aymeric Canivenc as co-heads of real estate. It follows the decision by chief real estate officer, Thomas ten Bokum, to step down at the end of this year. The firm said Jones will continue to focus on the UK and Ireland, while Canivenc will oversee real estate operations across continental Europe. The firm said they will play a key role in shaping its asset management strategy. Jones has been with Mileway since 2020, serving as managing director for the UK and Ireland. Canivenc has been the company’s country director for France since 2022, leading its French last-mile logistics portfolio.
Knight Frank beefs up in Birmingham headcount
Knight Frank has made a number of appointments to its Birmingham office, including Charlie Isaac and Dominic Towler, who have joined as associates in the industrial and logistics team. Nick Wint comes in as a partner to lead the lease advisory team. It also welcomes graduates Jeevan Johal and Aryaan Rampal to the automotive and valuations teams respectively, while Louis Wright joins the office agency team following his graduation from Leeds Beckett University. Additionally, Flora Chan has been appointed as business support coordinator, providing support across multiple teams within the office.
Mipim names largest ever Challengers cohort
Mipim, the global real estate conference operator, has announced its third cohort of the Mipim Challengers programme, 43 real estate professionals under the age of 31. The initiative is designed to foster inclusivity and elevate emerging talent within the built environment sector. Taking place in Cannes next March, they will be the largest cohort to date. Nicolas Boffi, MIPIM director, said in a statement: "These young professionals will bring ideas and questions that push us to think differently about how cities evolve. We have deep technical expertise in this industry, but we need voices that understand how their generation wants to live, work and move."