Fri 2 Nov 2007
November
Savills has made a number of key appointments for autumn to its Bristol office.Julian Harbottle is set to head up the branch's development team, while Helen Taylor has been recruited as a trainee surveyor to join Savills' Bristol management and professional services department.
Harbottle's appointment reflects the firm's aim to expand its strategic business links in the area. He said: "The team has nearly doubled in size in the last three years to 13 people, which reflects a robust property development market in the region. Our aim is to continue building on our existing areas of expertise, while aiming to double the team's turnover in the next five years - it already accounts for a healthy 20 per cent of the overall turnover of the Bristol office. This is an exciting time for the team, and I'm delighted to be playing a key role in driving it."
Meanwhile, Taylor moves over from a rural practice in north Somerset to take on her new role, which will involve valuations of prime residential and rural property. Before training to become a surveyor, Taylor spent 15 years working in information technology for companies such as IBM UK. Aiming to gain full membership of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in March 2009, Taylor is a good addition to Savills' management and professional services team, says Jane Greenland, an associate director and department head at Savills' Bristol office. "Helen will be a fantastic asset to our expanding professional team. She has a very strong business and management background and has found her passion in property and professional practice."
Savills is currently working on a range of projects in Bristol, including Temple Quarter and St Mary le Port.
Jayne Byron has been promoted to the role of part exchange manager at Bellway Manchester.
An ex-estate agent with experience of marketing Bellway's city centre apartments, Byron was felt by the company to be perfect for the position. Ken Ewen, the firm's managing director, said: "There is no one better qualified for this role than Jayne. She has consistently displayed commitment and professionalism throughout her career at Bellway, and thoroughly deserves this promotion."
Byron's key responsibilities will involve ensuring homebuyers across the north-west experience a smooth and hassle-free service. "I am thrilled with my promotion," Byron said. "It's a really good chance for me to make my mark as I'm effectively running my own estate agency for Bellway Manchester."
Byron, married with two children, lives in Preston and enjoys reading, walking and spending time with friends and family in her spare time.
G&C Finance has appointed Bonita Dines as its new projects coordinator.
Dines (27) has changed track from her legal career to join the G&C team after first encountering the firm during her work at Eversheds LLP in Birmingham as a paralegal, where she was involved with land transfers, completions of acquisitions and sales, financial reporting and legal research.
"My role at Eversheds focused on the legal aspects of commercial developments," Dines commented. "Working closely with Adrian Willet and his team helped me to foster a real interest in property finance. So I decided the property world was more suited to me.
"When the chance to work for Adrian arose, I had no hesitation in changing the focus of my career away from law. G&C is a progressive company with a great portfolio of clients. The chance of coordinating these will be a big challenge - but one I'm relishing."
"We're delighted to have Bonita on our team," added Willet. "With her legal knowledge and expertise, she'll bring an extra dimension to the role of projects coordinator.
"G&C has an ambitious growth strategy planned over the next three years, and we hope Bonita will be an integral part in ensuring its success."
Originally from Hertfordshire, Dines has lived in Birmingham since last year. She possesses a Law degree from Sheffield Hallam University and has recently passed her Legal Practice Course from De Montfort University.
Ian Trew has joined Antler Homes Midlands as land director.
Bringing 17 years of property experience to his new role, Trew previously worked for local housebuilders Woodford in Birmingham and JS Bloor in Tamworth.
"I'm looking forward to playing my part in the growth of such a renowned company," Trew said. "The land-buying industry is increasingly competitive, and my core focus will be on building strong relationships with local agents to ensure I am the first port of call when new opportunities arise. I'll continue to focus on brownfield land, but I also intend to explore the acquisition of large sites in both urban and village locations across the Midlands.
Trew's appointment coincides with Antler's plans to expand in the region. Steve Davis, managing director of the firm's Midlands branch, added: "We're confident that Ian's experience will prove invaluable as the company continues its expansion into Oxford and the East Midlands. I'm delighted to welcome him to the team."
Chase Homes has put the finishing touches to its new land department in a series of appointments and promotions.
Andrew Izamis and Phil Adams join the new department as senior land managers, while Richard Miller, who will head up the team, takes on the role of land director. Izamis, who joins Chase from G2-George Wimpey, a first-time-buyer and key-homes initiative in Leeds, previously worked as a senior land buyer for Taylor Woodrow in Solihull and Neil Grinnal Homes in Droitwich. Adams, meanwhile, worked as business development manager at CALA Finance where he worked with independent developers to buy and procure development funding, following stints at Barratt Homes, Miller Homes and Persimmon Homes.
"Chase Homes is working on some large city apartment schemes," said Miller, " and the new team will continue to look for similar opportunities to Viva in Birmingham and AXIS in Harborne. We're looking to expand into Staffordshire, Shropshire and Northamptonshire, while also building on the company's portfolio of specialist housing schemes and maintaining Chase's bespoke approach to design."
Laura Smith has joined Linden Homes Southern, Galliford Try's regional homebuilder in the south, as sales manager.
Working on developments such as the Royal Quarter in Lymington, Hampshire, Aqua in Poole, Dorset and French Quarter and Telephone House in Southampton, Smith's new role will be ensuring sales targets are achieved across the region. Smith, who started her career in the industry with Berkeley Homes in 1999, joins Linden from Barratt Homes, where she worked as a field sales manager.
"The opportunity to work for Linden Homes was too good an offer to refuse," Smith said. "The company has an enviable reputation as a respected regional homebuilder, not only in the south but in many other regions across the country. I have the support of a great sales team, and together we can continue to build on Linden's innovative approach to customer care, and swiftly respond to the changing market conditions."
"I'm delighted to welcome Laura to the team," added Jane Ewer, Linden Homes Southern's sales and marketing director. "She has a proven track record in the industry, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role."
Taylor Wimpey has appointed Willie McDermott as director and general manager of its Bryant West Scotland region, while Sara Stanhope has joined the firm's Eastern branch as sales and marketing director.
McDermott, former managing director of Bryant's West Scotland region, will now focus on establishing a new office for the firm's west team, and to lead the company as it works to consolidate its position in West Scotland.
Meanwhile, Stanhope, who has worked for the company for the last nine years, will now be responsible for managing the firm's tactical marketing and strategic planning in developments across Essex and Hertfordshire.
These moves signal two of the firm's first key appointments since the formation of Taylor Wimpey in July 2007 following the merger of Taylor Woodrow and George Wimpey. The holding company will retain both the Bryant Homes and George Wimpey brands, while continuing to develop the G2 brand, which provides apartments exclusively for first-time buyers with prices starting from £60,000.
Bryant's new West Scotland operation is well on course to meet its targets to increase its volume output in building 500 homes annually by 2009, says McDermott. "We've already identified an office location in the region, which sites within the heart of our operational area. It will allow us to reinforce the Bryant brand and position us closer to our operational developments. There are already a number of strong land opportunities coming up, and we're actively looking to secure these to push the business forward," he said.
Stanhope added: "I'm delighted to have been appointed sales and marketing director, as this has been my long-term goal since joining the company nine years ago. The industry is constantly evolving, and presenting new challenges, which makes my role both demanding and exciting. Next year is set to be exciting, and I'm looking forward to guiding my team towards achieving further success."
Chris Rook has joined Intro Homes as the firm's new senior land manager.
Recruited to ensure the firm achieves its target to build 300 homes per year from 2009 onwards, Rook's main responsibilities will be to identify development land and then work on the buying process through to land acquisition, typically in tandem with a housing association partner. Armed with 23 years' experience in the industry, most recently gained at Taylor Woodrow, Rook is an experienced land buyer and will be working to ensure Intro acquires a range of sites with 25 units and above.
Rook says Intro's work with the housing association sector was a key attraction when choosing the role. "Housing associations are becoming so powerful that no developer can afford to ignore them," he said. "It's still refreshing to find a developer who engages so willingly with them. Making friends with housing associations is good for business. It gives us an advantage in bidding for land, oils the wheels of the planning process and usually delivers better value from the affordable homes in the development too."
Peter Taylor, Intro's managing director, voiced his hopes that Rook's experience will help the three-year old division to increase its rates of growth. "Keeping Intro's development pipeline flowing means dealing quickly with a whole range of bureaucratic delays, from failure by water boards to sign build-over agreements to uncertainties over development near Special Protection Areas," Taylor added. "Builders are blamed for restricting housing supply by sitting on developable land - but chance would be a fine thing, as far as I'm concerned!"
Intro Homes, which was established in 2004, aims to provide entry-level homes for sale in London and the south-east.
UK estate agency Chesterton Global has appointed Peter Goldsmith to its main board as a non-executive director.
Goldsmith, who replaces Denis Wijismuller, who moved to Dubai in August, has experience in the property industry spanning over 40 years. Currently non-executive chairman of COBA Asset Management, advisers to joint-venture property partnerships with BDO Stoy Hayward Investment Management, Goldsmith took up his new role at the start of September.
"Chesterton has an excellent reputation in the UK market," Goldsmith said. "I'm delighted to have been asked to join the board."
"After a hard search to replace Denis Wijismuller, I'm very pleased indeed to welcome Peter to Chesterton's board," added Robert Bartlett, Chesterton's chief executive. "His excellent reputation and vast experience of the property market will be a great asset."
Midlands-based firm Westleigh Developments has recruited Dale Meredith to take on the role of assistant design engineer.
This appointment is Meredith's second since completing an NVQ Level 3 at Leicester College and undertaking an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering six years ago. It was, he says, the prospect of working in a dynamic site team that attracted him to Westleigh: "I've got previous experience in working with site personnel, which has given me the confidence and knowledge to help with site issues. Westleigh is always developing its methods of working, and I hope to contribute to this innovation in the design department."
His appointment reflects the company's attempts to boost its design team, which has expanded to three members from one after 12 months, following the introduction of a new homes department earlier this year.
"We've expanded the design team in line with the increased opportunities currently being secured by our land and business development teams," said Chris Beighton, Westleigh's managing director. "Strengthening our in-house expertise enables us to consider a greater range of sites, and to take on a wide variety of projects. Plus, the team's skill expertise allows us to adopt more sustainable solutions in keeping with our environmental policy - Westleigh Greenhouse."
First published in Show House Magazine November 2007.
The greatest care has been taken to ensure accuracy but some information contained within this article may have changed since it was first published.
Posted by Show House
in Andrew Izamis, Antler Homes, Bellway, Bonita Dines, Chase Homes, Chesterton Global, Chris Rook, Dale Meredith, G&C Finance, Helen Taylor, Ian Trew, Intro Homes, Jayne Byron, Julian Harbottle, Laura Smith, Linden Homes, Movers and Shakers, Peter Goldsmith, Phil Adams, Richard Miller, Sara Stanhope, Savills, Taylor Wimpey, Westleigh Developments, Willie McDermott on Fri 2 Nov 2007
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