Glenn Crocker, the chairman of the UK’s largest life science incubation business, has joined JLL as head of UK life sciences.
The hire underlines a considerable push from JLL to expand in the sector. Crocker, who was awarded an MBE in 2014 for services to biotechnology, will be a UK executive director at the agency.
He has been the founding chief executive at BioCity Group – which has sites in Nottingham, Glasgow and Cheshire – for more than 15 years. He will continue in his role of chairman at the firm.
At BioCity, Crocker oversaw the conversion of several former pharma company research facilities across the UK into clusters for “hundreds” of growing life science companies. He was also responsible for its venture investment arm.
His previous roles also include working at EY as head of UK biotech practice, for four years between 1999 and 2003.
Crocker told EG: “There are massive cost pressures on the industry at the moment, largely coming from health services, as well as reduced productivity in the sector. At the large pharmaceutical companies, the [rate of] return on investment is down to around 1.9%.
“That drives businesses to be as efficient as possible. A lot of pharma companies need to be near lots of small, innovative new companies so they can access those sources of talent.
“I have spent most of my working life helping life science companies to succeed and I see my role at JLL as providing a platform to realising that ambition on a new level.”
Market opportunities
Neil Prime, head of central London markets and UK office agency at JLL, said: “Glenn’s appointment is a standout strategic hire for us and comes at a time when the life sciences sector, which is going through profound change, presents new market opportunities for entrants and disruptors.
“His extensive industry experience, together with his academic background, will be a tremendous asset to both our occupier and investor clients, giving them competitive advantage in this rapidly evolving sector.”
Over the past five years, JLL’s life sciences projects have included a £200m joint venture in 2018 between TusPark, the science park development arm of Tsinghua University, and Trinity College at Cambridge Science Park.
The agency advised on funding and planning to Imperial College at its White City campus in west London. It is also involved in masterplanning, funding options and delivery models for new life science clusters in the ‘golden triangle’ of London, Cambridge and Oxford.
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