“We cannot be the best business if we are not a balanced business. And we want to be the most balanced business in the industry.”
That is the ambition of William Beardmore-Gray, Knight Frank’s incoming senior partner and global chairman, who will take over the running of the partnership from 1 April 2022.
Beardmore-Gray (pictured) is not unaware of the irony wrapped up in that statement.
He looks, in many ways, just like Alistair Elliott, who has held the senior partner and group chairman position since 2013. Beardmore-Gray says he is disappointed that there isn’t yet greater diversity within the partnership. In the year ended 31 March 2020, just two of the firm’s 70 equity partners were female – Caroline Foord and Emma Goodford. A third, Abby Brown, was promoted at the end of last year.
Beardmore-Gray knows it will be incumbent upon him to make some bold decisions. And, says Elliott, that is exactly why the partnership made the decision to elect him senior partner.
“Knowing how committed Will is to this agenda, the partnership has made the right choice. He will lead the change,” says Elliott.
But Beardmore-Gray was not chosen for the job just because of his commitment to introducing greater diversity and inclusion across the firm. Starting his real estate career as a residential estate agent in Battersea, Beardmore-Gray has some three decades of Knight Frank experience, leading its London team and growing its global occupier services division.
Chief among his concerns now is finding a successor to lead those two divisions.
“London is a very important part of the business, and we must find the right person to lead that team,” says Beardmore-Gray, adding that this task, as well as appointing a global occupier services lead, will be the focus of his attention for the next three to six months.
For Elliott, the year will be spent handing over the reins to Beardmore-Gray, who joins Knight Frank’s executive board later this month, focusing on the firm’s performance against the continuing backdrop of Covid-19 and reflecting a little on how the business has changed.
After eight years in post and some 38 years with the business, Elliott remains excited about the real estate business, saying it has never been more broad in the specialisms it offers and the people the business is open to.
“There’s still plenty for Will to do,” says Elliott. “I’ve barely scratched the surface of what I’d like to have done. But what I’ve seen is that Knight Frank can withstand any crisis and come out stronger. I could not be more humbled by the performance of our people around the world, and I still believe that there is a great future for a partnership like ours.”
For Beardmore-Gray, that future is going to be about balance, and building and changing the business in a positive way. “Alistair has set a great example of how to do the job,” he says, “and I have big boots to fill.
“Over the past eight years, with a particular focus on our people, Alistair has driven extensive development firm-wide, strengthening our global partnership and long-term client relationships. I am excited to have the opportunity to build on this with our teams around the world.”
With the global knowledge he has built over the past five years growing the occupier services business and a deep knowledge of London, Elliott says Beardmore-Gray is “without a doubt, superbly qualified to lead Knight Frank”.
And, adds Beardmore-Gray with a grin, wherever Elliott ends up after he retires next April, he’s sure that he’ll find a way of telling him if he’s not doing it right.
To send feedback, e-mail samantha.mcclary@egi.co.uk or tweet @samanthamcclary or @estatesgazette
