JLL has hired Andrew O’Donnell from EY to become its UK real estate and workplace director.
O’Donnell is to work closely with JLL’s operations, smart buildings, workplace strategy and Tetris teams to improve its UK buildings and workspaces. He said he was looking forward to focusing on JLL’s 'agility, sustainability, IoT and the quality of the human experience'.
Richard Howling, UK COO said: 'We know that having the right working environment strongly contributes to employee happiness and therefore to the success of a company. By hiring a recognised leader, with proven experience of driving an accomplished workplace programme, we will not only support our own workspace transformation, we will trial and showcase ideas and new technology, to keep us at the forefront of developing brilliant workplaces and can best advise our clients to achieve the same benefits.'
As EY’s EMEIA real estate leader, O’Donnell, oversaw workplace strategy for 90,000 people across 9 million ft2 (840,000 m2) of office space. He led the EMEIA flexible working programme and designed the accountancy firm’s approach to flexible spaces, including at its new 280,000 ft2 London office.
O’Donnell, said: 'Having the right workplace strategy has never been more important to ensure organisations attract and retain the best talent, improve employee health and productivity and respond to an ever changing political and economic landscape.
'I am excited to be joining a company that is putting the latest ideas in to action and is able to leverage its own workplaces both to proactively support its people but also to use that experience to advise its clients.'
