JLL's new head of Glasgow Alistair Reid is cautiously optimistic about the fortunes of the city's commercial property market in 2024, as he took a moment to sit down with CoStar News following his appointment. Following 17 years with the firm, Reid said he wants to make sure the different departments in JLL's Glasgow team talk more to each other to help out its clients.

"In a business the size of JLL, it is really important that our core clients know our business lines," Reid said. "It is important for me as a director in the office agency team that I have a knowledge of, for example, our hotels team; who they are speaking to and who their core clients are. There is so much crossover between teams where you can ensure clients are being served by a breadth of services across the Glasgow office and Scotland."

Continuing to lead the office agency team in Glasgow, which he has done since 2017, the conversation naturally turned to workspaces and the opportunities which lay ahead for the asset class this year. He added: "We can link in with our PBSA teams, BTR and residential to see where some of these slightly stranded office buildings can be converted and have a change use [to give them] a new life because there is a massive drive from City Council to double the amount of people living within the city centre."

Reid will work closely with head of Scotland Cameron Stott and head of Edinburgh office Jason Hogg.

South West commercial property agent Simon West has retired after a career spanning 45 years, in which he earned the unofficial title of "Mr Dorset" from colleagues. West specialised in general agency, development and investment work, with colleagues paying tribute to "his trademark sense of humour". He is best known for his role in co-founding Dorset-based partnership Cowling & West in the 1980s alongside David Cowling. That business merged with national property consultancy Vail Williams in 2021, one of the biggest independents in the sector.

Ares Management Corporation has promoted Julie Solomon to head its real estate business alongside current head Bill Benjamin, with the pair sharing global leadership duties. Solomon joined Ares in 2013, with the company describing her as an "invaluable leader" of its real estate team and a key contributor to the growth of the business. She is promoted from global chief operating officer. Benjamin said: "[Solomon] is a talented industry veteran whose professionalism and accomplishments are highly regarded among Ares’ team members, limited partners and industry stakeholders."

The Government Property Agency, the executive agency managing the UK government's properties and workplaces, has confirmed a second term for Pat Ritchie CBE as chair, extending her position by three years. The former chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency, now Homes England, will continue to work to deliver "greener and better-connected" government property estate, according to the GPA.

Ritchie was initially appointed GPA chair in January 2020 and served as chief executive of Newcastle City Council for more than eight years. In that role she oversaw multi-million pound regeneration projects, including a deal to bring UK financial sector giant Legal & General to Newcastle’s flagship Helix development.

Colliers has added Matthew Ardron to its EMEA capital markets team. He joins as a director this month from Henley Investment Management. The brokerage said Ardron will support clients with their capital requirements and provide guidance to investors seeking partnerships, joint ventures, and similar opportunities. Ardron will report to Luke Dawson, global and EMEA head of capital markets, and work closely with the Colliers 18-strong EMEA capital markets team.

Dawson said in a statement: "Matthew’s hiring perfectly aligns both with the current dynamics of the market and our longer-term strategy of providing our clients with a full suite of capital markets capabilities. The ability to connect capital with partners has never been more important and we already have several assignments in this space. Having Matthew on board will allow us to accelerate this high-value service for our clients."

Ciaran Bird, CBRE UK and Ireland divisional president and chief executive, says the firm is committed to "making a lasting impact" on the lives of individuals affected by dementia after its employees chose Alzheimer’s Society as its UK charity partner. Bird and CBRE are aiming to raise £600,000 for the organisation across a two-year partnership. The money it raises will support the charity’s Citizens Advice Benefits Service, its Diversity and Inclusion fund.

Architecture practice Gensler has promoted ESG consultancy director Juliette Morgan to principal in the UK and European division. Morgan has more than 20 years of experience as a commercial real estate professional and has been responsible for asset managing and developing millions of square feet across the UK and US, according to Gensler. Morgan worked for British Land, where she was head of sustainable development for more than two years, before joining her current firm. She is promoted to principal alongside three other women.