Global real estate firm Avison Young has unveiled a series of senior appointments that include external hires and a new managing director for the regions.
Stephen Cowperthwaite, principal at Avison Young, takes on the newly created role of managing director of the regions, leading and coordinating Avison Young’s offer to the regions.
Adrian Boyce joins Avison Young UK as principal and head of project management, workplace, arts and culture.
Avison Young said: "With a wealth of experience in project management and extensive background in occupier-focused solutions, Adrian brings strategic vision and diverse expertise to his new role"
Before joining AY UK, Boyce spent seven years at JLL, where he held several leadership roles working across project management, sales and occupier solutions. Prior to JLL, Adrian worked at AECOM for 12 years as director of project management.
As part of his position at AY UK, Boyce's portfolio takes in projects including the major development of Salisbury Square for the City of London Corporation, working with cultural institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Science Museum, and working with global corporations on workplace and occupiers’ strategies.
Sarah Miles joins AY UK as associate director, occupier solutions, bringing expertise across client development, change management. She joins from Arcadis.
At AY UK, Miles will work with Sarah-Jane Osborne, UK and Europe Head of Workplace, to "guide clients through the journey of workplace transformation, from concept design to strategic advisory".
James Porter, chief client officer, Avison Young, said in a statement: “Recruiting Adrian Boyce and Sarah Miles is a real success for Avison Young and is a testament to the quality of our professional service offer and the ambition we have for future growth. Alongside their extensive experience and growth mindset, Adrian and Sarah bring an in-depth understand of workplace, occupiers, and project management solutions, which will undoubtedly enhance our ability to deliver people-centric and data-led transformative services to our clients. Both appointments reflect Avison Young’s commitment to providing unparalleled expertise and thought leadership, consolidating our strength and scale as provider of technical and specialist agency services.”
Boyce said: “My vision is very much in line with Avison Young’s goal of being powered by people, and I look forward to working with the teams, helping them unlock their untapped potential, to deliver effective services, support clients across the UK, and develop best practices.”
Miles, said: “I am delighted to join the brilliant team at Avison Young; the opportunity to collaborate with industry experts like Sarah-Jane Osborne and James Porter, renowned for their expertise in workplace design and occupiers’ solutions, is what drew me to the organisation."
Cowperthwaite, who will continue in his role as Regional Managing Director of Avison Young’s Liverpool office, will now oversee all of the regional managing directors. This will include fostering stronger partnerships between the regions and both UK and foreign investors, and acting as an advocate and voice for growth.
He said: “Investment in the regions reflects our wider strategy for UK growth – shaping an advisory business that is powered by people, client centric and passionate about delivering solutions that drive economic, social and environmental value.
"My ambition is to build on Avison Young’s heritage, expertise and relationships in regional towns and cities, to create spaces and places that deliver real benefit to the economy, environment and community, underpinned by strategic and technical advisory services and grounded in in public private partnerships.”
Nick Walkley, UK president, Avison Young, said: “The appointment of Stephen Cowperthwaite to chair the RMD group demonstrates our commitment to investment and growth in our regional offices. The results and relationships cultivated by Stephen in his time as RMD in Liverpool illustrates what it means to be a true regional advisor – acting as an advocate, networker, and sometimes as a critical friend to ensure that our public and private sector clients can deliver transformative projects across the UK.”