Knight Frank has hired James Orchard as a partner in its project and building consultancy team.
Orchard joins from CBRE, where he worked as a senior director for six years and was responsible for building the refurbishment and repositioning service line for its project management team.
Prior to this he worked for Colliers International, where he also worked on high-profile refurbishment and fit-out projects.
Knight Frank said Orchard would be charged with building the team’s capacity to advise clients on each stage of complex projects, from pre-acquisition due diligence through to the execution of value-add strategies and disposals.
He will work closely with Craig Frost, Knight Frank’s head of project management, and Charles Ingram Evans, head of the project and building consultancy at Knight Frank.
Frost said: “Landlord and Cat A project management is an increasingly important area of growth for the team, reflecting the potential for sustainable refurbishment projects and long-term asset management initiatives to deliver strong returns for investors.
“The expansion of our project management function has been instrumental in strengthening our capacity to fulfil the needs of clients, and James’s appointment will further bolster the variety and quality of services we provide. I am excited to welcome him to the team.”
Orchard said: “In light of landlords’ and investors’ heightened focus on sustainable refurbishment and awareness of the important of asset management in retaining occupiers and supporting leasing, I am thrilled to be joining a dedicated, like-minded team of experienced industry experts in the project management field.”
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