Bilfinger GVA man takes the reins at Birmingham property forum
CHARLES Toogood, senior director at property consultancy Bilfinger GVA, has been appointed chair of the Birmingham Office Market Forum (BOMF).
He takes over from John Griffiths of GBR Phoenix Beard.
Formed in 2007, BOMF’s membership includes the city’s leading office agents who work together to provide coordinated data on Birmingham’s city centre office market to investors, developers and occupiers.
It also acts as a voice to the marketplace.
Toogood said: “This is without a doubt the most exciting time in the organisation’s history to be chair of BOMF, as we are in a resurgent period of quite significant and hopefully sustainable growth.
“All of the investment in infrastructure that we see currently taking place across Birmingham, supported by the co-ordinated approach of the city council, is starting to deliver real opportunities.
“This has already been demonstrated through deals such as the relocation of Deutsche Bank to Brindleyplace and HSBC’s selection of the city for the headquarters of its ring-fenced bank.
“There is also a significant pipeline, with projects such as Paradise, Arena Central and 103 Colmore Row set to deliver truly class-leading Grade A offices to the city market within the next few years. This is all creating a sense of confidence within the city that we haven’t seen for almost a decade.”
Toogood said his goals will be to strengthen and grow relationships with city groups and Business Birmingham.
Meanwhile, Bilfinger GVA has announced a new appointment to its lease consultancy team.
Sophie Nelson-Shaw joins the company from Holland and Barrett as a principal surveyor and will support the team across their extensive portfolio of commercial property clients, covering the retail, industrial and office sectors.
With more than 11 years’ industry experience, Nelson-Shaw has worked with a range of high profile brands and organisations including Timpson, Celesio UK and property consultants BNP Paribas Real Estate and Strutt & Parker.
In other news, Ian Stringer, regional senior director of Bilfinger GVA’s Midlands office, has been appointed as the company’s advisory board chairman.
He will retain his position in the Midlands office alongside this new role.
