Savills has named Caroline Pontifex as head of its workplace consultancy and design studio.
Pontifex will replace Katrina Kostic Samen at KKS Savills, who will take on a new role in the firm’s US business as vice chair and head of Savills workplace studio.
Kostic Samen will be based at the New York office.
Pontifex has more than 35 years’ experience in real estate and was a partner of KKS Strategy, which was founded by Katrina Kostic Samen in 2004, before Savills bought the business in 2019.
She specialises in occupier and workplace strategy, focusing on evolving trends and best practice across multiple sectors. Pontifex has worked with clients including Landsec, BlackRock and Great Portland Estates, advising on everything from workplace strategy and interior design to change management.
Her projects have included work with architects Calatrava International on Sohar International bank’s Oman HQ, and workplace strategy, design and change management for AXIS Capital’s 52 Lime Street, EC3, London HQ as well as the firm’s Atlanta and New York offices.
She was also instructed to give strategic design advice to law firm Allen & Overy on its 2021 prelet of 1-2 Broadgate, EC2, in preparation for its relocation in 2026.
As part of her new role, Pontifex will be supported by the studio’s leadership team comprising Yetta Reardon Smith, Carl Mitchell and Paul Butterworth.
The leadership transition comes as the team, which staffs 27 people, relocate from its current Great Peter Street base in Victoria to a new studio within Savills’ Margaret Street HQ.
Simon Collett, executive director and head of building and project consultancy at Savills, said: “This is a very exciting time for the studio, who I have no doubt will continue to thrive in their new Margaret Street home under Caroline’s leadership.
Pontifex said she is taking on “the mantle of leading Savills workplace and design team (KKS Savills) into a new era as we move into Margaret Street”.
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