Latest appointments of senior FM professionals

FM Director will publish an overview of the industry’s latest senior new starters and details of their roles in each of its monthly publications

A well-known and highly-experienced leader in economic development and social impact has been appointed as managing director of the Industrial Solutions Hub (iSH) forward-thinking and collaborative organisation.

Sellafield head of development and community Gary McKeating, who was also responsible for leading the company’s social impact programme, has been appointed as the organisation’s managing director. It is backed by Cumberland Council, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and Sellafield.

Mr McKeating was brought up in West Cumbria and has more than 30 years of industry experience, and has been appointed on a two-year secondment to lead the company after previous managing director John Maddison’s two-year tenure, which involved launching the organisation in March 2022, ended in December.

Sustainable buildings service provider Johnson Controls has announced the appointment of Marc Vandiepenbeeck as executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Mr Vandiepenbeeck succeeds Olivier Leonetti who will depart Johnson Controls for a role outside of the company. Mr Leonetti’s service came to a close at the end of last month, following an extensive period of co-working between the two men to ensure a smooth transition and handover.

“Marc brings a wealth of experience to his new role. With deep finance expertise, an understanding of our customers, global markets, and operational knowledge, I am confident that we will continue to build on the foundations already in place to accelerate our growth and performance,” said chairman and CEO George Oliver.

Real estate services provider CBRE appointed Jonathan Lowe as head of science and technology for the North. The strategic, new role is designed to further strengthen the company’s offer for occupiers, operators and investors in this quickly evolving sector.

Formerly head of life sciences at Avison Young, he brings a diverse range of expertise advising developers, investors, occupiers and universities across multiple asset classes including offices, industrial and EV. Additionally, he has public sector experience, having been seconded to central government departments of the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Education/MHCLG.

Mr Lowe will work across his employer’s Northern region, providing enhanced sector specialism to align with the growing science and technology sectors. Whilst further developing the offering to existing clients, he will develop the occupational work by advising life science occupiers and science and technology companies.

Business management software provider The Access Group has announced three new senior hires, which are intended to drive forward its commitment to delivering unrivalled customer service and to prioritising its sustainability targets.

Caroline Fanning has been announced as chief employee success officer, replacing Claire Scott who has retired from the business after more than six years leading the people function. Before joining, Ms Fanning was chief people officer at Avanade, where she delivered a successful growth-orientated people strategy to support the company’s expansion, elevating employee experiences to attract, develop, reward and retain skilled talent.

She is joined by Mark Billingham, who has been appointed as chief customer experience officer. He previously held the position of managing director for Capita Experience UK where he looked after its UK portfolio of customers focused on CX transformation and providing positive outcomes for major blue-chip companies across multiple industries. A six-month stint as interim CEO saw him successfully support the restructuring of the business and drive growth.

Mark’s previous roles include executive leadership roles at retailer Very, British Gas and Vodafone.

The third recruit is Carla Matthews, who joins in the newly created role of director of sustainability. She has more than 15 years of experience in leading change and embedding sustainability into core operations across technology, professional services and manufacturing sectors.

Savills announced it appointed Olivia Sutcliffe as an associate in its Social Value team, cementing the firm’s commitment to expanding its Savills Earth services.

She is the founder and chair of the Young Professionals in Social Value networking group and brings extensive experience, said the company. Formerly the responsible procurement manager for the Greater London Authority and a senior social value advisor at the Social Value Portal, she has successfully driven social value strategy for clients. Ms Sutcliffe received a highly commended award in the Social Value Champion category at the National Social Value Awards 2023.

Suketu Shah has joined JLL as its head of life science for Property Asset Management (PAM). He is tasked with strengthening the company’s position as a provider of exceptional life science property management services, focusing on driving business development initiatives, enhancing client relationships, and ensuring exemplary service delivery.

Mr Shah has an impressive track record of 14 years in growing like-minded communities, fostering collaboration, and driving innovation and research in multiple buildings. He has been instrumental in expanding companies both nationally and internationally, demonstrating his ability to navigate diverse markets and capitalise on growth opportunities.

Avison Young UK has announced the promotion of 59 team members across the business, to the levels of associate director and director. These individuals have been recognised for their outstanding contributions and unwavering dedication to the firm.

Of the 59 promotions, 25 have been promoted to the role of director, while 34 have assumed the role of associate director. This cohort is intended to play a pivotal role in fostering the future growth of the firm and efficiently delivering its strategic objectives. The promotions span across 11 regions. They encompass eight key business groups including: Building and project consultancy, client solutions, place, professional advisory, rating and technology, REFIM, transactions, and support.