Liz Peace will be leaving a big, but stylish, pair of shoes to fill when she stands down from leading the British Property Federation in the autumn.
In replacing her, the BPF has quite a task on its hands (p33). To its credit, the board has given itself a headstart. Headhunters have been appointed; Odgers Berndtson, no less. Odgers has long been the go-to firm for many organisations seeking first-class leaders. In the past few years it has filled top jobs at the CBI, the Association of British Insurers and the British Venture Capital Association. You get the strong sense that the BPF may not be looking for a surveyor here.
And you can see why. In 12 highly effective years, Peace has redefined the role of the BPF chief executive. She – or he (and it is not often the alternatives are that way round in property) – must be a powerful advocate for the industry. A clear and passionate communicator. A stalker of the corridors of power, familiar with the ways of Westminster and of the New (financial) World Order. Conviction and the ability to convince is crucial. And, usually, persuasiveness requires no small amount of style.Barely a month after joining the BPF in 2002, Peace told Estates Gazette: “It has been something of a state of limbo for me but now I can finally get my teeth into it.” The BPF – and the industry at large – needs someone as impatient, driven and effective to succeed her.
¦ Here’s a stat. I asked on Twitter this week whether it was true that there were more lawyers specialising in property than in any other branch of law. It prompted some less-than-generous comments – search @DamianWild to see the best/worst – and a useful reply from the Law Society. There are 26,500 solicitors specialising in business affairs, 25,000 general litigators and just shy of 20,000 commercial litigators. Some 21,000 lawyers work in the field of commercial property and 17,000 on residential conveyancing. Add those two together and property lawyers are the single biggest group.
¦ Estates Gazette and MIPIM UK are teaming up to launch a new awards event to recognise and reward the efforts of developers and their partners from the private and public sectors working to revitalise cities and towns across the UK. From city leaders to planning authorities, PRS projects to regeneration schemes, the MIPIM UK/Estates Gazette Awards will be presented at the October show. You have, as they say, to be in it to win it. Visit www.mipimuk-awards.co.uk for details.
¦ Battersea Power Station was a frenzy of activity this week. Wednesday night saw the biggest party of the recovery so far: champagne, check; celebrities and attendant paps, check; Sir Elton John performing, check. It was an extravagant way of keeping the scheme in the public eye. It was certainly a differentiator when it comes to selling flats to prospective buyers, many of whom were in attendance. And it entertained and bemused many of the property people there.
Whatever your view, the event will no doubt have helped ensure that phase two of the scheme – the 254 flats in the Power Station itself – is a sell-out. And with the deals done in the UK to boot.
¦ Estates Gazette leads the way in this year’s PPA Awards, bagging no fewer than eight places on the final shortlist. We are finalists in the Business Magazine of the Year, Business Media Brand, Editor and Digital Innovation categories at what are the publishing Oscars.
Meanwhile our design supremo Chris Gardner is up for Art Director while Sophia Furber, Noella Pio Kivlehan and Emily Wright are all battling to be crowned Writer of the Year. Estates Gazette is fighting it out with the likes of the Radio Times, The Week, Top Gear, Wired, Country Life and a whole shelf-load of other business and consumer titles at a ceremony that is bound to glitter on 10 July.
damian.wild@estatesgazette.com
