Industry Appointments: WSP and Parsons Brinckerhoff name UK Leaders

Posted on 6 March, 2015 by admin

WSP and Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) has confirmed a trio of senior UK appointments after its recent formation.

Two partners shaking hands at meeting in front of building

The New York-headquartered planning, engineering and construction management organisation was acquired by the Canadian-based WSP late last year.  It has now confirmed the combined company’s UK operation will be lead by 26-year WSP veteran Mark Naysmith as its chief operating officer.

Last year the Association for Consultancy and Engineering named Naysmith as its European chief executive officer of 2014.

“We have a very exciting future ahead and we are already seeing some of the benefits of our new status in the industry,” he commented. “It is a truly complementary merger of minds and talent and I have every confidence we are now putting together the final plans of what will be one of the UK’s most eminent consultancies.”

Ian Maclean, Parsons’ former African managing director, has been confirmed as the new company’s UK managing director for energy and industry. He has 33 years’ experience in the industry working for both Parsons Brinckerhoff and Balfour Beatty.

Steve Reffitt, former chief operating officer of Parsons Brinckerhoff Europe, has also been appointed integration director for the business in the UK, the Middle East and Africa.

Following the recent appointment of Dan Hyde as retail, hotels and leisure director in GVA’s Manchester office, the commercial property adviser has now expanded its similar team on Merseyside.

Although based in Liverpool as a senior director, Stephen Cowperthwaite will have the broader responsibility of leading the firm’s entire northern offer. He has previously worked at GL Hearn and Mason Owen, representing both commercial owners and occupiers within the food retail and large space sectors.  Cowperthwaite has acted for all of the major food retailers: Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys, Morrisons and Waitrose.

Set up five years ago as a specialist commercial agency, Manchester-based Obi Property has confirmed that Andrew Cowell has joined its transactions and asset management team. During his career he lead the city centre leasing team at Bruntwood for eight years, where he worked on a number of key assets including Manchester’s City Tower, One Portland Street and Lowry House.

Lambert Smith Hampton has boosted its Birmingham capital markets team with the appointment of a new senior surveyor. Matthew Jenns is joining the property consultancy from GVA where he worked in the restructuring and recovery department advising financial institutions and insolvency practitioners about their property assets and portfolios.

Cushman & Wakefield, the global real estate service agency, has promoted Isla Monteith to partner in retail services and Stephen Bibby to partner in retail capital markets. Both are based in the company’s Edinburgh office.

HRC Law in Manchester has appointed Helen Marsh as a partner and head of the firm’s commercial real estate team. She will provide a range of commercial property services to businesses, developers, funders and investors with specialist knowledge of the retail sector.

Rugby-based construction and civil engineering firm, Stepnell, has appointed Edward Wakeford as the company’s new portfolio manager. He will be responsible for appraising the company’s countrywide property portfolio and maximising its performance and return on investment.

Corporate property specialist, Malcolm Glynn, is the latest addition to the commercial real estate team at Cumbrian-based Progression Solicitors. He will work out of the firm’s Windermere office, but will support clients across its other regional offices.

Story: Cliff Goodwin

Photo: Bigstock




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