People on the Move – 22 August 2018
A shake-up at Stockland, with Andrew Whitson to take on retirement living after Stephen Bull’s departure, and two new executive directors at the Property Council.
Stockland’s group executive and CEO of residential, Andrew Whitson, will take the reins of the company’s retirement business after retirement living chief executive Stephen Bull moves on after 11 years. Stockland says the move will improve operational efficiencies and position the business for sustainable growth. Whitson will become group executive and CEO, Stockland Communities. Chief operating officer Michael Rosmarin also departs, with his functions to be spread throughout the wider group.
The Property Council has appointed Cressida Wall as its new Victorian executive director. Wall has previously been a board member of the Office of Projects Victoria and spent five years as a key economic adviser to the Bracks and Brumby governments. Property Council chief executive Ken Morrison says Wall has the “public policy expertise, the breadth of experience and the passion to represent an industry that is so important for Victorians.” Wall replaces Sally Capp who resigned from the Property Council upon being elected Lord Mayor of Melbourne.
Meanwhile, Sandra Brewer joins the Property Council as its new Western Australian executive director. Brewer was most recently general manager of marketing for National Lifestyle Villages and previously founded brand consultancy Perceptive Marketing. Brewer has also held positions with the Liberal Party and nominated for preselection for the seat of Cottesloe. She has resigned from all positions in the party. Brewer replaces Lino Iacomella who stepped down last month after 13 years with the Property Council.
The Australian Government has appointed several high-profile property leaders to its National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) board. These include Kylie Rampa, national vice president of the Property Council and Lendlease’s CEO of property, and Adrian Harrington, head of funds management at Folkestone and director of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. David Cant, director of PowerHousing Australia and experienced company director and senior taxation lawyer Teresa Dyson will also join chair Brendan Crotty. The NHFIC was established by the Turnbull Government and will administer the $1 billion national housing infrastructure facility.
Peter Blade, JLL’s current head of industrial in Western Sydney, has been appointed head of its Parramatta office as the agency responds to increasing demand. Blade rejoined JLL in February after seven years with CBRE, and will lead a team of specialist agents based in Parramatta.
Colliers International has appointed Anthony Clark and Alex Johnson to its tenant advisory team in Sydney. Clark joins from Pepper Property while Johnson moves over from Knight Frank. Colliers’ tenant advisory team has doubled in size in Sydney and Melbourne in the last 18 months alone.
Savills Australia has appointed Ben Parkinson as its national head of retail investments following the launch of the company’s new national business model on 1 August. Parkinson steps into the newly-created role after starting with Savills in October 2017 as the Victorian state director of capital transactions.
Eloise King has joined CBRE’s asset services division to support the rollout of its customised workplace app, CBRE 360. King, who will be responsible for driving customer experience, is a former News Limited journalist.
James Coffey will lead CBRE’s new shopping centre leasing division in New South Wales. Coffey was most recently head of asset management and project leasing with Belle Property Commercial. The appointment follows CBRE’s acquisition of leading retail leasing and property management firm Race Property in April.
Jennifer Cunich has departed the Australian Institute of Architects. Cunich, a former executive director of the Property Council in Victoria, took up the role of chief executive officer two years ago. The Association’s Clare Cousins, who runs the Melbourne-based practice Clare Cousins Architects, has been appointed acting CEO.
Global architecture firm Woods Bagot has appointed three new principals in Australia: regional interior design leader for Australia Eva Sue, global chief operating officer Larisa Moran, and global chief financial officer Peter White. Moran and White also join the board of the Australian company as its newest directors.
Purplebricks has hired a new chief operating officer in Australia. Neil Tavender has been tasked with turning around the virtual agency’s sales operations. Tavender has previously worked with REA Group’s Propertyfinder.com as commercial director.
GJK Facility Services has established a grounds maintenance division with Tony Murphy leading the team as national general manager for grounds. Murphy was with Programmed Maintenance Services for a decade.