Cushman & Wakefield has the announced the appointment of Colin Wilson to head its EMEA business to replace John Forrester who has been named global president of the property services firm.
In addition, George Roberts has been appointed head of UK & Ireland.
All roles are effective from 1 December 2017. The leadership changes come two years after the merger between Cushman & Wakefield and peer DTZ.
As global president, Forrester will have day-to-day operational and management oversight of the firm's four global regions of the Americas, EMEA, APAC, and Greater China. He will also be responsible for developing the firm’s range of services to satisfy clients' evolving needs. The global role, working closely with CEO Brett White, will be based in London.
Pre-merger, Forrester served as chief executive EMEA at DTZ, which he joined in 1988. He also acted as group chief executive of DTZ Holdings and led the formal sale process to UGL in 2011. Under his leadership, Cushman & Wakefield’s EMEA business has been strengthened by strategic appointments and acquisitions – including Cogest Retail (Italy), DTZ Zadelhoff (Netherlands) and ADMOS (Belgium & Luxembourg).
Brett White, CEO of Cushman & Wakefield, said: 'We have been growing on all fronts, making strategic acquisitions, adding services and taking market share. Now is the time to ensure we have the right people in place to drive us forwards for the next phase of our growth. John is a remarkable leader who has run large, complex organisations, has extensive knowledge of global real estate markets and is a trusted advisor to leading global occupiers and investors. He is ideally placed to ensure our regional businesses work together effectively to capitalise on the increasingly global nature of client requirements and opportunities.'
Forrester added: 'We are a very different organisation to the one we were at merger, yet as we’ve grown we’ve remained entrepreneurial and action-orientated. That's important as the industry is changing fast. We must lead that charge while maintaining our constant focus on providing the best advice to our amazing clients in every major market and service line around the world.
'Colin and George embody this client-first focus as outstanding market leaders who have become outstanding business leaders. They have the skills and experience to grow our EMEA and UK & Ireland operations for the benefit of our clients and our great people.
EMEA
Wilson joined DTZ in 1996, leading Central London investment and national investment teams before being made head of UK & Ireland in 2012. Since the merger he has built out the UK & Ireland business, adding new capabilities to meet changing client demands, and served on the EMEA leadership board. An ambassador for increased diversity and inclusion in the industry, he launched Inspire, Cushman & Wakefield’s new UK diversity and inclusion initiative last year.
'This era of political, economic and technological uncertainty presents significant opportunities for our business which is ideally structured to provide strategic advice to clients moving capital, services or employees across borders,' Wilson said.
He will be supported in his role by Carlo Barel di Sant’Albano who continues as EMEA chairman.
Commenting on his appointment as head of the UK & Ireland, Roberts said, 'I am looking forward to working closely with our leaders and talented colleagues across the UK and Ireland, and supporting them in delivering the forward-looking and insightful advice that our clients demand in what we all know is a fast-changing world.'
Digby Flower continues as chairman UK & Ireland, playing a key role in driving the overall business as well as building key relationships as one of London’s and the UK's pre-eminent real estate advisers and personalities.
