Cushman & Wakefield’s three senior hires for its data centre group was one of the most-read people moves stories on BE News this week. Senior hires in commercial finance and industrial and logistics also feature.
Cushman & Wakefield bolsters data centre group with three senior hires
Tom Glover has joined Cushman & Wakefield from JLL as head of data centre group, EMEA. Andrew Fray takes the newly created role of head of origination and major transactions, APAC and EMEA. James Polkinghorne (pictured) joins from AirTrunk as head of operations, data centre group, APAC and EMEA, and is based in Singapore.
JLL appoints James Meikle as head of London tenant representation
Meikle will join JLL’s Central London office agency team in April 2027. He leaves Cushman & Wakefield after 27 years, most recently as head of London occupier representation. He previously led the firm’s office leasing business in Italy for more than six years.
Stanhope appoints James Mantle as commercial finance director
Mantle (pictured above) has joined Stanhope from Related Argent, where he was finance director for development. He will report to CFO Clare Pagan and will oversee financial and commercial reporting, analysis and performance across development and asset management, and support new business and investment activity.
Savills announces EMEA management changes from January 2027
James Sparrow will become EMEA chairman at Savills while remaining UK CEO. Jaime Pascual-Sanchiz becomes Iberia chairman and continental Europe CEO, and Steve Morgan becomes Middle East and Africa CEO. Alejandro Campoy becomes Iberia CEO and Javier Echeverría becomes continental Europe CFO and COO.
Strettons appoints Peter Higgins as I&L director
Higgins (pictured above) has joined Strettons’ industrial and logistics agency team as a director. He moves from Glenny after 24 years, where he most recently served as a divisional partner. Higgins has more than 30 years’ industry experience.
SHW hires three for South East property agency team
Harry Whitaker and Rosalind Pett have joined SHW’s Brighton office as associates. Whitaker comes from Newmark’s London corporate real estate team and Pett from Coltham Asset Management. Carmen Dayan joins the Crawley/Gatwick office as a graduate surveyor.
Workspace Group appoints Knight Frank’s Julian Stocks as non-exec director
Stocks will join Workspace Group’s board as a non-executive director on 1 January 2027 and sit on its nominations committee. He is a proprietary partner and head of professional services at Knight Frank, and retires from the firm on 31 March 2027. Stocks has more than 38 years’ property experience.
Avison Young appoints Tony Burchett as executive national director of UK operations
Burchett has taken a newly created combined role at Avison Young. He becomes managing director, real estate, facilities and infrastructure management (REFIM), and executive national director of UK operations. He will coordinate operational priorities across service lines and report to global COO Martin Dockrill. He continues to lead UK REFIM, reporting directly to UK and Ireland president George Roberts.
