Knight Frank Australia has announced the appointment of James Patterson as the company’s new chief executive officer.
Mr Patterson brings extensive experience and leadership capabilities with him, having most recently been CEO of Cushman & Wakefield ANZ. He has also held senior roles at JLL Australia and CBRE Pacific.
The company said Mr Patterson’s strengths in growing transactional businesses while fostering an inclusive working culture would provide the foundation for the next phase of growth.
Knight Frank Senior Partner and Group Chairman Alistair Elliott said: “Australia is Knight Frank’s largest business outside the UK and we are delighted to have appointed someone with Mr Patterson’s experience and leadership credentials to this important role”.
“Mr Patterson’s direct and personal engagement with the broader community fits well with the firm’s mission to contribute to the communities in which we operate.”
Knight Frank Asia Pacific Managing Director Kevin Coppel said Mr Patterson had an outstanding record of growing businesses based on strong engagement with staff and clients.
“We are looking forward to Mr Patterson driving Knight Frank’s plans to grow aggressively within the Australian market,” Mr Coppel said.
Mr Patterson is a passionate advocate for cultural change and will continue to develop Knight Frank’s positive engagement with the community.
He is a board member of Champions of Change Coalition (Property), a member of the Beneficiaries Committee of the Property Industry Foundation and he serves as chairman of Souths Cares, which supports opportunities for indigenous youth in Sydney.
In his previous role, Mr Patterson actively encouraged the recruitment of people with disabilities via NDIS agency Jobsupport.
Mr Patterson said he was excited to be rejoining Knight Frank, where he started his career in property 35 years ago.
“I am very much looking forward to working with the broader team at Knight Frank Australia to drive the next phase of growth in the Australian market,” Mr Patterson said.
“Knight Frank’s private ownership and independent, debt-free operation together with a strong and stable growth agenda will resonate with staff and clients.”
