Gerry Hughes, national head of planning, development and regeneration, has been appointed chief executive of Bilfinger GVA.
He replaces Rob Bould, who left the business after 40 years last night. His departure was initiated by Bilfinger Real Estate.
Bould, 62,will continue as a consultant at Bilfinger GVA and is expected to take up other non-executive positions and continue to play an active role at LandAid, the property industry charity, for which he sits on the board.
He said: “It has been a privilege to lead the BGVA business and I cannot imagine anywhere else with such a great team of professionals. Our UK platform is the strongest it has ever been and Bilfinger has the opportunity to develop a leading European and global real estate services business. I wish my colleagues every possible success for the future.”
New chief executive Hughes added: “The market potential for Bilfinger GVA in the UK and Europe is huge and underpinned by our unrivalled real estate consultancy pedigree. The team has built an enviable reputation as leaders in many aspects of the real estate market in the UK and our pipeline of opportunities has never been stronger.
“Bilfinger GVA is now taking that success into Europe and beyond and we expect that the wider corporate activity at Bilfinger SE will present us with even greater opportunities. I look forward to working even more closely with all my colleagues to fulfil our full potential as a business.”
Dr Jochen Keysberg, head of the building and facilities segment at Bilfinger, said: “We believe these changes are needed to further assist in the integration and evolution of BVGA into the Bilfinger group business. On behalf of the executive board I would like to thank Rob for his commitment, enthusiasm and leadership in his term as chief executive. We look forward to continuing our relationship with his new role.”
In 2014, Bould navigated GVA through its takeover by Bilfinger in 2014, a deal which took the company out of the hands of private equity firm Lloyds Development Capital. Bilfinger GVA, along with Bilfinger’s other property businesses, is being lined up for sale by its parent as a result of proactive interest from third parties.
The company has shortlisted four prospective parties, including private equity investors, to buy the businesses and a decision is expected by MIPIM.
Private equity firm and KKR nor rival CBRE, which have previously been linked to the firm, are not among those shortlisted.
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