Comings & Goings

Colin Tomlinson steps down as MD at H&H Land & Estates 

Colin Tomlinson, the managing director of H&H Land & Estates in Cumbria, has stepped down from his role.

Tomlinson, who held the position since 2018, will now become a consultant director for the firm.

Tomlinson, who has worked in Kendal for over 45 years, will take a hands-on role, including conducting property auction sales, managing estates, land and property, and professional valuations, as well as continuing in a mentor role.

Tomlinson will work closely with Rachel Bagshaw, associate director and head of land agency South Lakes, to expand and grow the specialist estate management, land agency and woodland team based in H&H Land & Estates’ Kendal office.

Tomlinson said: “I will still very much be involved in the business, but I felt now was the time to pass on the baton and allow someone else to take the reins. My energy will be focused on the auctions, estate management, and working with clients, which are the aspects that I truly love within the industry. I will fall back into a consultancy capacity and concentrate on the South Lakes land and property agency and the South Lakes estate agency.

“I will be taking on this new role in the short-term as it is vital for myself, the team, and the company that during this period of change we retain a welcome presence for our clients, and provide a continuity in our services that our clients rely upon.”

Richard Rankin, chief executive of H&H Group, commented: “As a business that is continuing to grow and evolve in these changing times, the advice offered by Colin during the next chapter for the company will be a real asset.

“Colin is well respected in the industry and has, for many years, been the driving force and the face of the H&H Land & Estates branch of the H&H Group. He has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the market, and I would like to thank him personally for agreeing to work with us in a consultative role.”

Kurtis Property appoints Umar Loonat as sales & lettings manager 

Loonat is tasked with helping the saes and letting agency grow their presence in the areas they cover.

Glenn Cohen, director at the company, commented “We are delighted to welcome Umar to the team, he arrives with dedication and discretion, which is crucial when steering through the property market, especially in these more challenging market conditions.”

Loonat added: “I’m delighted to join the team at Kurtis Property. My dedication to providing outstanding customer service aligns with the company’s values, and I’m confident about the positive direction we’ll take together as we work to meet and exceed the needs of our clients.”

The GPA confirms Mark Bourgeois as CEO 

The Government Property Agency (GPA) has confirmed the appointment of Mark Bourgeois as its new chief executive officer.

He was confirmed in the permanent position after holding the interim seat for 10 months.

Bourgeois brings more than 30 years’ experience in strategic and operational leadership across the fields of investment, development and asset management within commercial real estate.

He is a former managing director for the UK and Ireland division at FTSE listed developer and investor Hammerson plc, and prior to that executive director at Capital & Regional plc. He also has extensive expertise in regeneration in partnership with local and city authorities, including acting as interim corporate director for City Development at Liverpool City Council.

Georgia Gould, parliamentary secretary for the Cabinet Office, said: “Mark has demonstrated exceptional leadership of the Government Property Agency during his tenure as interim chief executive over the past year.

“With decades of experience, Mark will be instrumental in enhancing the financial and environmental performance of the government estate while delivering world-class workplaces for civil servants nationwide.”

Pat Ritchie, the GPA’s chair, added: “I am delighted to confirm Mark in the permanent role, he has already had a huge impact on the leadership of the GPA.

“Working closely with the board and executive team, Mark will continue to play a fundamental role in the way property is managed across government and creating great places to work for civil servants, supporting economic growth and local communities.

“He and the executive team will further build the agency’s commercial organisational culture, with our client and customer needs being at the heart of this. With Mark’s experience in real estate and building, inspiring and developing teams, he is the ideal leader to take the GPA to the next stage of our development.”

Since launching in 2018, the GPA has grown to manage around 1 million sq m of the government’s office portfolio – acting as an expert partner to departments for strategic planning and workplace services including design, property technology and workplace experience.

The agency is also responsible for the Government Hubs Programme – bringing civil service teams closer to the communities they serve across the UK. Recent milestones within the programme have included the opening of the Peterborough hub last year which last month was awarded Leesman , and acquiring 5.5 acres of the former Central Retail Park at Ancoats in Manchester earlier this year which is currently the subject of a public consultation on the future development of Manchester Digital Campus.

Bourgeois commented: “I am thrilled to be appointed as the permanent CEO at such a pivotal time for the GPA. During my time as interim, the collaborative support from departmental clients has been excellent and I’m hugely grateful to impressively talented colleagues for all their continued dedication and commitment. We’re well placed to further strengthen the GPA culture, deliver financial efficiencies and productivity gains across the civil service, all in support of the Government’s missions. I’m looking forward to the continued challenge.”

Comings & Goings