SAVILLS has poached Michael Fenton from JLL and CBRE, to head up the agency’s national industrial and business services division, as part of a national restructure.
CBRE wooed Fenton from JLL in May this year to head up CBRE’s industrial and logistics division and co-senior managing director of the NSW business. He was due to start at CBRE this month, however there has been a change at the 11th hour.
Instead Fenton will return to Savills following more than nine years at JLL, where he was the Australian head of industrial and New South Wales managing director. He brings with him more than 24 years’ experience, including senior roles at Dexus and CBRE.
Savills CEO Paul Craig said he was excited to welcome Fenton to the business.
“We are delighted to have someone with such extensive industry experience rejoin Savills,” Craig said. “This is a significant appointment for the business, and we are confident that Michael’s leadership will ensure the continued growth and success of the Industrial & Business Services product line, which is one of our core disciplines.
“Michael’s track record is the perfect platform to strengthen our already high-performing Industrial business and drive the team to win a greater market share,” he added.
Fenton has been involved in several major transactions totalling more than $4.5 billion, including the recent $1.073 billion sale of the GIC Australian Logistics Portfolio to Ascendas REIT, the $253 million sale of the Coles Chilled Distribution Centre at Eastern Creek to Mapletree Logistics, and the $303million sale of the Equity Commonwealth Portfolio to Propertylink.
“I am looking forward to providing our clients with a seamless and best-in-class service by mobilising the strength of national industrial business across all disciplines, and leveraging the strong connectivity with the global business, particularly in Asia,” Fenton said.
The appointment follows Savills’s national restructure, which will see the company shift from its current state-based model to a national business model from August 1.
Craig said the change was part of the business’ three-year strategic plan to implement a national capability to operate more efficiently and respond better to clients’ needs.
“We’re looking forward to watching our people flourish under this new structure, and are confident it will help us attract and retain the highest-level talent in the months and years to come,” Craig concluded. “This is a very exciting time for Savills.”
Australian Property Journal
