Matt Dawson on new JLL role and property career
"Lessons from sport can be transferred," says Matt Dawson, the England rugby legend turned JLL executive director, strategic clients, as he discusses his new role in an interview with CoStar News. "It's a bit like those games that are tough – that you just win or just lose and that you bounce back from. There's always something a bit more satisfactory about those," he adds.
Dawson is no stranger to the property industry despite having enjoyed a long career at the top of rugby union. He was director for business development at managed office and flexible workplace broker Instant for more than a decade before joining JLL and says he partly has his parents to thank for planning for a life after rugby.
At JLL. Dawson will develop and execute account strategies for its portfolio of high-value clients, build C-suite level relationships and identify cross-selling opportunities in its service portfolio across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Dawson, who also joins the EMEA work dynamics board, is confident that he will hit the ground running at the global real estate consultancy. "I've been part of great teams and it's been very high profile on a world-class stage. I would like to think that that reputation is reflected with the people that I've continued to work with."
BCO appoints GPE's Hare as president
The British Council for Offices has appointed Helen Hare, director of projects at GPE, as its president. She succeeds Peter Crowther, chief executive of Tatton Estate and co-founder of HERE. Hare has more than 30 years’ experience in the construction and property industry and is responsible for the design and delivery of all projects across GPE’s development, refurbishment and flex working programmes. She has worked on major projects, including the listed company's largest mixed-use development at Rathbone Square in Fitzrovia, 12-14 New Fetter Lane and 33 Margaret Street. "This is an incredibly exciting time not just for the BCO, but for the office sector," Hare said.
CBRE head of development for Scotland departs
CBRE's head of development for Scotland Chris Dougray has left the business. He joined CBRE in 2022 after the niche consultancy, asset management and brokerage firm he cofounded, DougraySmith, was acquired by the global real estate agency. He has set up his own company, Dougray Limited, where he is director. Dougray previously worked as a director at Lambert Smith Hampton and DTZ, now Cushman & Wakefield. A spokesperson at CBRE said: "We are very grateful for the contribution that Chris has made and anticipate remaining in close contact with him as we work on further opportunities together."
Savills buys architectural design consultancy
Savills UK has bought Citydesigner, an independent heritage, townscape and architectural design consultancy based in Central London, with managing director Richard Rees saying it "will enhance our 350 strong planning consultancy team". The agency said the acquisition complements its heritage and townscape team within its UK planning division, which is headed by Henry Ryde. Citydesigner was founded in 1997 by architect and heritage expert Richard Coleman. It has an eight-strong team of architects, urban designers and heritage consultants. Many of its clients, including the Greater London Authority, have existing relationships with Savills.
Watling Real Estate launches national consulting division
Watling Real Estate, the real estate consultant formed two years ago via a management buyout of Avison Young's restructuring division, has launched Watling Consulting, a new service arm, to be headed by Guy Brett. He brings 30 years’ experience in real estate consulting developed during a career including senior positions at EY, PWC, Cushman & Wakefield and, latterly, as a senior director at Avison Young. Watling Consulting said its focus is on supporting organisations with complex portfolios to "develop estate strategies, shape investment cases, optimise performance, and align their property decisions with long-term service and financial goals".
Redical hires three across schemes in Leeds and Essex
Redical, the real estate owner and operator, has completed a trio of hires, including James Edmondson who becomes asset manager for Victoria Leeds. Edmondson will focus on implementing targeted asset strategies and has a decade of experience and joins from the Savills UK Investment team.
Rebecca Hiley has joined as brand relationship manager at Victoria Leeds and has more than two decades of senior retail leadership experience, most recently as regional manager at Ralph Lauren. Louise Boorman is appointed as tenant liaison manager at The Liberty Romford. She has worked at The Ritz London and BMW’s Sytner Group.
Turley bolsters South West and Wales planning team
Catrin Jones has become a director at Turley as part of a string of hires in its South West and Wales planning team. Jones has circa two decades of experience in environmental planning, infrastructure consenting and strategic policy development. Leo Horton-Taylor has joined as a senior planner from Stantec, where he worked for almost two years having been at DPP Planning for more than two and a half years. Jamie Wright and Georgie King Brain have also started as assistant planners at Turley, which has 15 offices across the UK and Ireland. Last month Turley appointed Stephen Taylor to the newly created role of placemaking lead as it accelerates growth in this area.