Property Appointments: GVA, Knight Frank promotions, BNP Paribas Real Estate, Carter Jonas and more

COMMERCIAL property adviser GVA has recruited two new surveyors to its Leeds building team.

Following the appointment of new building director Nick Twigg last May, Mark Blenkinsop has joined the team from Mr Watts as a principal surveyor.

Meanwhile, after a successful undergraduate placement, Rob Devoy has been recruited as a graduate surveyor.

Mr Twigg said: “Mark and Rob are great additions to our growing and experienced team here in Leeds and their appointments once again demonstrate our aim to recruit outstanding people with the right knowledge to provide the best service to our growing client base.”

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PAUL Hallam, Ed Harrowsmith and Dan Hyde, who are all based at the Leeds office of property consultancy Knight Frank, have been promoted.

Mr Hallam has been appointed a partner, while Ed Harrowsmith and Dan Hyde become associates.

Henrie Westlake, the partner in charge of the Leeds office of Knight Frank, said: “These three promotions were well deserved and reflect the strength and direction of our business. The future for Knight Frank in Leeds is very bright indeed.”

Mr Hallam, who is head of Knight Frank’s valuation team in Leeds, joined the company in 2006 from SHM Smith Hodgkinson, while Mr Harrowsmith, an office agency specialist, is a product of the successful Knight Frank graduate scheme.

Mr Hyde, who works in retail agency, is a former professional rugby union player and studied at Northumbria University.

Mr Hallam said: “Speaking on behalf of the three of us, we are all looking forward to the challenges of our new positions as the property market enters 2013, which will hopefully see the end of the recent recessionary period.”

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BNP Paribas Real Estate has appointed Edward Wright, formerly a partner at Lawrence Tattersalls, as a director in its Sheffield rating team.

Mr Wright brings with him experience having focussed on rating work for the past 20 years with particular emphasis on the licensed sector.

Leighton Thomas, head of BNP Paribas Real Estate’s Sheffield office, said: “The addition of Edward to the existing team gives us added strength and depth to ensure that our clients’ business rates liabilities are minimised.”

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LANDOWNER and countryside champion Tor McLaren has joined the board of planning and development specialists Rural Solutions, which is headquartered at Broughton Hall, Skipton.

Mr McLaren has used the services of the rural planning experts to develop a masterplan for his family’s estate in Wiltshire, gain permission to develop a listed stable block and explore ways to maximise the future potential of his rural assets.

Now he has joined the board as a non-executive director.

He said: “I’ve worked with Rural Solutions as a client on a number of occasions and have always been impressed with their vision, innovative and entrepreneurial approach to planning.”

William Fry, managing director of Rural Solutions, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Tor has joined our board of directors.”

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Carter Jonas’ rural division in Yorkshire has enhanced its rural expertise with two appointments.

Laura Graham has joined Carter Jonas as a graduate surveyor following three years at the Royal Agricultural University.

And Gillian Wilsher has joined Carter Jonas from Harper Adams University as an assistant trainee rural surveyor. Originally from Wakefield, Ms Wilsher will assist the team with its wide ranging rural professional work and rural lettings.

Andrew Fallows, partner at Carter Jonas, said: “We always look to take on the best and brightest graduates to bolster our rural offering. Laura and Gillian will make excellent additions to the team and we’re looking forward to working with them.”