KNIGHT Frank is restructuring its WA office leasing team, appointing Rick McKenzie to head up the division, in a move to support its national growth strategy over the coming five years.
The restructured team will see Rick McKenzie promoted to partner and head of office leasing from July 1, when he will begin leading the team locally.
McKenzie has eleven years of experience in office leasing and valuations, having worked at CBRE and Opteon Property Group before joining Knight Frank 15 months back.
“Rick’s experience, knowledge, skills, energy and client relationships, including with institutions, have proven to be an asset to our office leasing team in Perth, with clients also benefitting from his expertise,” said Craig Dawson, partner and managing director, WA at Knight Frank.
According to McKenzie, Knight Frank is set to place a greater emphasis on providing strategic and substantiated leasing advice to clients in a growing WA office market.
“The WA office leasing market is improving as the unemployment rate hit a 13-year low in April 2022. No other state has achieved an unemployment rate below three per cent since current records began,” said McKenzie.
“Knight Frank is optimistic about the office outlook for Western Australia, acknowledging that the disruption of COVID-19 on workplace behaviours will require ongoing consultation with clients and customers to ensure that the growth in the economy continues to translate to improved occupancy.”
At the same time, the other members of the WA office leasing team will remain in their positions, including partners of office leasing Ian Edwards, Greg McAlpine and Jeremy Robotham.
“The current balance of experience and energy in our diverse and cohesive team will provide an excellent platform for growth in a competitive and dynamic market,” added Dawson.
Edwards and McAlpine have been joint heads of the team for more than two decades prior to McKenzie’s appointment.
“It is incumbent on us as leaders to put things in place so that the business continues to grow into the future from the platform which has already been built. We felt the timing of the restructure was right in that Mr McKenzie will take a longer-term view which extends beyond our tenure in the business,” said Edwards.
