National property consultancy Vail Williams has announced four strategic mid-year promotions: a regional managing partner, head of development, partner and a surveyor.
Charlie Nicholson has been named Vail Williams' regional managing partner for the Surrey region, based in Woking.
He has 20 years’ experience in the UK property market, specialising in the acquisition and disposal of commercial property.
Vail Williams said in a statement: "Charlie is a driven commercial property agent with expertise in the disposal of office, industrial and mixed-use schemes across the Surrey, Thames Valley and Heathrow regions on behalf of both occupiers and landlords.
"He also represents a number of businesses in the acquisition of premises or development land for design and build opportunities. His experience includes leasing campaigns across various mixed-use business parks, and, as a partner within the agency team, developing a solid corporate client base."
David Podesta, who has been promoted to head of development and is based in the firm's South Coast region, joined the firm as an associate in 2024, and has more than 25 years’ experience in the property sector. He has worked extensively in residential development and also as an estate manager for the University of Southampton..
Based in Southampton, he is experienced in both residential and commercial asset classes, and his property background includes expertise in estate/asset management, lease advisory, disposals and acquisitions, facilities management and, most recently, residential development.
He has particular expertise in the purpose-built student accommodation sector, having worked on projects that have delivered in excess of 2,500 beds of student accommodation.
He also has a specific interest in regeneration and working with clients to masterplan landholdings.
Matt Doe, who has been promoted from associate to partner in Vail Williams’ Thames Valley region, is a lease advisory expert and is responsible for supporting occupier and landlord clients with lease review, renewal and restructuring needs.
He joined Vail Williams in 2021 from Smith Price RRG, where he spent seven years specialising in lease advisory work for owners and occupiers of retail property across the UK.
In his role at Vail Williams, he is responsible for helping landlord clients to maximise their rental income, while supporting occupier clients in mitigating their occupational costs at rent review and lease renewal.
Based in Reading, he also provides advice in relation to lease restructuring opportunities, with a focus on the industrial and office markets in the South East.
George O’Connor, who has been promoted to surveyor level 2 in the Surrey region, joined Vail Williams in 2021 as a graduate surveyor having graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a degree in real estate.
Based in Woking, he supports the wider agency team in the renting, letting, acquisition and disposal of commercial property. He provides multi-disciplinary commercial agency services across the Surrey region and progressing towards his qualifications with the support of Vail Williams.
Matthew Samuel-Camps, Vail Williams managing partner, said in a statement: "I firmly believe that Vail Williams is nothing without its people and thus it is very much incumbent upon us to develop and retain our top talent to provide the impetus to further grow the business across all sectors.
“These four promoted colleagues add significant value to our business and we congratulate them for this career advancement. They are part of a very talented, dedicated and hard-working team across all disciplines at Vail Williams.”
Vail Williams last year reported what it described as it its best year, with increased revenues of £18.3 million for 2022-23, up 5% over the previous financial year. It said growth was in line with the current three-year business plan and included the highest grossing single quarter since 1988 when the firm was founded.
The firm also announced that it had reduced its carbon emissions by 42% since starting its journey towards net zero by 2030. It again voluntarily published its annual Carbon Reduction Statement.
Vail Williams’ full-service property advice includes commercial agency, investment and development advice, building consultancy, property valuation, planning, lease advisory, property asset management, business rates and occupier consultancy.