Cushman & Wakefield’s Despina Katsikakis has been elected as president of the British Council for Offices (BCO) with immediate effect.
Katsikakis, who is executive partner and global lead, total workplace at Cushman & Wakefield, succeeds Mark Kowal, partner at Sheppard Robson. Peter Crowther, managing director at Bruntwood, becomes senior vice president of the BCO.
Katsikakis joined the BCO’s board of management in 2021 and has more than 35 years’ office sector experience, advising global companies such as Microsoft, Barclays and BP.
Katsikakis said: “It is an honour to be appointed president of the BCO. With the role of the office increasingly focused on people, experience and social impact, under my leadership the BCO will focus on the unprecedented level of change that is affecting our industry, to drive research and provide a forum for discussion on how we can develop new skills, measures and indices that will shape inspiring offices for a resilient future. I am looking forward to working closely with the BCO committees and members to share knowledge, ideas and debates.”
Kowal added: ‘It has been an honour to be president of the BCO and I thank the organisation and its board of management for all their support. In my term, I was committed to readdress the role of the office in our lives, and shape how buildings can encourage innovative and fresh thinking, while introducing greener solutions. My focus remains on supporting the BCO as immediate president and I wish best of luck to Despina for her presidency.”
Richard Kauntze, chief executive of the BCO, said: ‘I am delighted to welcome Despina Katsikakis as president of the BCO. Despina is a hugely respected and experienced thought-leader on the workplace and, as senior vice president, led the BCO’s sell out annual conference in June. I wish her every success for her presidential year.
“I would like to thank Mark Kowal for his exceptional hard work and dedication during his presidency. As the office sector emerged from the pandemic, under Mark’s leadership the BCO has continued to strengthen its role as a leading voice in office design and workplace trends. Mark was an outstanding president of the BCO and should be hugely proud of all he achieved.”
The BCO’s honorary treasurer, James Clark, partner at Core Five, is also standing down and is to be succeeded by Bruce Paterson, founding partner at Quantem Consulting.
Kauntze said: “I must also express my gratitude for James Clark, who is stepping down as the BCO’s honorary treasurer, for his commitment and service to the organisation. It is a pleasure to welcome Bruce Paterson as the incoming honorary treasurer.”
