Global real estate firm Avison Young has made a series of senior appointment announcements that include external hires Adrian Boyce and Sarah Miles joining the consultancy with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, 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, building on the firm’s expertise in town and city regeneration and public and private sector partnership and investment.
Adrian Boyce joins Avison Young UK as Principal and Head of Project Management, Workplace, Arts and Culture (WAC). 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 Avison Young UK, Adrian spent seven years at JLL, where he held several leadership roles working across Project Management, Sales, and Occupiers Solutions; prior to JLL, Adrian worked at AECOM for 12 years as Director of Project Management.
As part of his position, Adrian's portfolio encompasses a wide range of projects, including the major development of Salisbury Square for the City of London Corporation, working with renowned cultural institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Science Museum, and working with global corporations on workplace and occupiers’ strategies.
With over 13 years of experience in interior design and workplace design, Sarah Miles joins as Associate Director, Occupier Solutions, bringing extensive expertise across client development, change management, as well as advising clients on optimising their interactions with workplaces. Sarah joins from Arcadis, and her background in interior architecture, coupled with her deep understanding of clients' evolving needs in the post-pandemic era, uniquely qualifies her to translate ideas into tangible workplace strategies.
Sarah will work closely 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: “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 understanding 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.”
Adrian Boyce, Principal and Head of Project Management, WAC, Avison Young, said: “Avison Young is operating at the forefront of revolutionary real estate consulting, providing an extensive wealth of professional services across the sector. The Project Management team at Avison Young brings together professionals from various backgrounds, fostering an excellent foundation for a people-centric service. 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.”
Sarah Miles, Associate Director, Occupier Solutions, Avison Young, 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. Avison Young has an incredible client base, and I am eager to work alongside them, leveraging our collective knowledge and experience to deliver innovative and tailored solutions. I look forward to shaping the future of workplace strategies and helping clients optimise their environments for success.”
Cowperthwaite, who will continue in his role as Regional Managing Director (RMD) of Avison Young’s Liverpool office, will now oversee all of the RMDs. This will include fostering stronger partnerships between the regions and both UK and foreign investors, and acting as an advocate and voice for growth.
Stephen Cowperwaite, Managing Director, Regions, Avison Young, 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. I have no doubt that working with our cohort of experienced and committed RMDs, Stephen will bring this enthusiasm and expertise to bear for the benefit of both client and colleagues alike.”