Knight Frank has recruited John Rushby from Colliers International to head up its new specialist leisure team. Rushby, who joins Knight Frank as partner and head of specialist leisure, was head of specialist leisure at Colliers working across the valuations and advisory space.
During his 25-year career Rushby has advised on a wide range of high-profile assets, including valuing the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon, Emirates Old Trafford and more than 250 golf courses.
Knight Frank’s new specialist leisure team will form part of the firm’s specialist property offering and will specialise in business, portfolio and operating asset valuations, deal origination, feasibility advice, business turnaround and security reviews in addition to operational and operator selection services and consulting and brokerage.
Shaun Roy, head of specialist property investment at Knight Frank, said: “We’re seeing more and more clients need expertise in the leisure arena as our lives see increasingly blurred lines between work and lifestyle and leisure becomes at the forefront of consumers’ minds. We see this as a real growth area for the business as the leisure sector becomes increasingly sophisticated and the consumer continues to spend more and more on leisure whilst leisure assets become much more investible as long-term income producing assets.
“John’s appointment is hugely exciting and drives forward our strategy to provide our clients with the best market-leading insight and commercial opportunities internationally. He has an exceptional track record and unrivalled experience in this burgeoning sector and is the ideal person to launch and rapidly grow Knight Frank’s leisure capabilities.”
Rushby added: “As an emerging asset class, the specialist leisure market is increasingly growing as astute investors look to diversify their portfolios. Having worked in this field for a number of years I’m pleased to see the demand grow and this is an ideal time for Knight Frank to launch a dedicated team.
“I am looking forward to building on Knight Frank’s specialist investment and valuations credentials, working closely with my colleagues around the world to provide our clients with innovative and market-leading expertise and advice.”
