Property People: Project director at Leeds Building Society; New Construction director announced; and more

Leeds Building Society has appointed Mike Briffett as Project Director to manage the Society’s move to a new Leeds head office.

Briffett has a background in cost and project management and most recently worked on a range of high profile buildings in Leeds, including Leeds Arena, KPMG’s new headquarters in Sovereign Square, as well as developments at Kirkstall Forge and in the city’s South Bank area.

He joins the Society from Turner & Townsend and will lead on the delivery of Leeds Building Society’s new head office in the heart of the city.

Briffett said: “This project provides a rare opportunity to work on a scheme which will continue the legacy of one of the city’s finest institutions. Leeds Building Society has been operating in the city for over 140 years and I’m looking forward to contributing to the next exciting chapter for the business as it looks to its future in Leeds.

“The Society’s values resonate strongly with the responsibility of modern businesses as ethical corporate citizens. That is something I really appreciate and I believe the building itself can play a part in facilitating that story for colleagues and members.”

The move to a new head office will bring together the Society’s colleagues, currently based in three offices across the city centre, under one roof.

Chief Operating Officer Karen Wint, said: “Our new Sovereign Street head office is testament to our commitment to both Leeds and Yorkshire and we’re pleased to see work progressing on site.

“Mike has a strong track record of delivering high profile projects in the city and his appointment illustrates our commitment to delivering a modern space fit for the future of our business which will help us operate efficiently and save us and our members money in the long run.”

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Castleford-based Sigma has appointed Richard Oldfield as its new Construction Director.

Oldfield, who joined the business in May, brings with him a wealth of experience in construction having spent the last 25 years in the sector having previously held positions at Skanska, Mivan and Johnson Construction. More recently he has specialised in construction and fit-out projects for ISG within the retail and commercial industries, delivering results for a suite of blue-chip clients across the private and public sector.

Craig Bennett, Chief Executive Officer, Sigma, said: “Richard’s track record, experience, and contacts in the profession are second to none and we are thrilled to have him on board. Attracting someone of Richard’s calibre into the business is a great endorsement of our strategy and ambition. He brings with him incredibly strong knowledge and experience which will be vital as we continue our ambitious plans to grow and adding world class talent to the business”.

Oldfield added: “Sigma has a deserved reputation as a leading construction specialist in the retail sector. We have a tremendous opportunity to grow further and continue to diversify into new sectors, bringing our strong business values and service delivery to match the demands and rightly high expectations of our clients. Sigma’s brand, values and proven delivery models are facets I have respected over many years, and I am excited to be on board and part of the great team that will take these to the next level.

Oldfield’s appointment is part of a wider restructuring of the Sigma business based on changing customer needs in the sectors they support, including retail, leisure and automotive.  Recognising the importance of the evolving maturity of the way project teams now work together to deliver even more innovative, sustainable and future-proof developments and projects, the business believes it can strengthen its delivery model whilst improving quality and service through a more holistic approach to its business structure.

As part of this restructure, Craig Bennett has announced the merger of its Projects, M&E and Construction divisions to create a single Projects division, to which Paul Fahey has been appointed to the role of MD.

Stephen Woolf has also been announced as the business’s new Head of Safety, Health, Environment and Quality, who has joined from The Coal Authority.

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Savills has boosted its national industrial & logistics team with the hire of Tom Asher as director at its Leeds office.

Asher joins from JLL where he had been part of the industrial and logistics agency team since 2014, having joined the firm in 2005. As part of his role at Savills he will lead the Yorkshire team, working with key clients including db Symmetry and Tilstone.

Richard Sullivan, national head of industrial & logistics at Savills, said: “It is fantastic to welcome Tom on board, bringing with him a wealth of experience and excellent client relationships. Last year saw record levels of take up in Yorkshire and the addition of Tom will bolster our position in the market.”

Savills national industrial & logistics team is over 30 people strong and operates from strategically located offices throughout the UK.