Three key members of DTZ Debenham Thorpe’s industrial agency team, including director Barry Allen have resigned from the company amid strong rumours that they are leaving to set up FPDSavill’s first office in the city.
Allen is understood to have taken two associate directors in the industrial department, David Middleton and Kate Hallam with him to launch FPD Savills new commercial office in Birmingham which he will head.
Justin Roberts, head of commercial at FPDSavills, refused to comment on any names or individuals joining the company but said he was only interested in setting up a team in the city, not starting up a ‘one man and a dog operation’.
Geoff Thomas, chairman of DTZ Debenham Thorpe in the Midlands, said he will be recruiting to fill the vacancies in his industrial team which is headed up by Rod Gough.
Roberts confirmed to EGi FPDSavills’ commitment to opening in the city. He said: “We will open in Birmingham. It is part of our strategy and we are committed to opening in Birmingham but we will only open when we have got the right people and a team in place.”
FPD Savills is following the lead of Knight Frank and Drivers Jonas which announced last year they are both starting-up commercial operations in the city for the first time.
Thomas added: “We could all do without anymore competition in the market but the bigger firms are in a better position to absorb it. The larger (national) firms now realise the importance of national coverage which DTZ took a lead on years’ ago.”
EGi News 07/02/98
