Knight Frank announces the appointment of Dermot Lowry as Partner, Head of Occupier Services, Australia. Mr Lowry joins the firm in early August 2018, having spent the last four years as Director, Leasing – Office & Logistics at GPT.
Based in Knight Frank’s Sydney office, Mr Lowry will join a growing national team of trusted advisors in the Occupier Services space, including Matt Martin, Partner, Head of Occupier Services, Queensland; James O’Neill, Director, Occupier Services, New South Wales and Gordon Wyllie, Director, Occupier Services, Victoria.
Aaron McGhee, Chief Operating Officer, Knight Frank Australia, said that he is pleased to welcome Mr Lowry on board.
“Dermot has a wealth of experience and strong relationships on both sides of the table, from managing a team responsible for one of the largest industrial and office portfolios across Asia Pacific, to acting as tenant representative on behalf of various corporate occupiers in Australia and the Middle East.
“He will be able to draw on broader experiences to further drive a customer-centric focus for the team, and will leverage our national footprint to service clients with a national portfolio.”
Mr McGhee said that this is a significant appointment and recognises the shift in the market which is increasingly occupier-led.
“Knight Frank sees the growth of the Occupier Services business as the key driver behind the evolution of the Australian property market, with more sophisticated occupiers demanding fully integrated property solutions, to support overall business success in a fast-changing global environment.”
According to Mr McGhee, traditionally a market sector focused on sourcing premises and negotiating the best commercial outcomes, occupiers are now seeking a more integrated and embedded approach – with services including strategic advisory, portfolio management and project management all playing a key role.
“As the property sector transitions from a transactional to a consultancy model of operating, Knight Frank is looking to deliver the highest-level advisory service to our clients.
“As part of this strategy, this month Knight Frank transitioned 80 senior leaders across Australia to a partnership model in line with our UK structure. The ‘Partner Program’ is a key element of our leadership plan. It will be the foundation block for sustained success and will unite the leadership team with a mutual accomplishment and entrepreneurial focus.”
Mr McGhee said that this announcement follows more recent staff acquisitions across the board, and the key hires of innovative, enthusiastic people across the business.
