Avison Young promotes Lucas to principal and four others to director
Neil Lucas has been appointed principal in the company’s Manchester office, while Rebecca Skerrett, James Goode, Tom James and Oliver Shore have been named directors.
Lucas is a town planner with more than 15 years of experience. He joined Avison Young after the company acquired GVA in 2019. GVA, in turn, had acquired How Planning the year before. Lucas had been a partner with How Planning prior to the acquisition.
Skerrett joined Avison Young in 2019, when the company acquired GVA. She worked for 20 years at GVA as an associate planner and later acting director. She is a member of Avison Young’s telecoms division.
Shore also came to Avison Young from GVA, where he had been a chartered building surveyor and later an associate. He works within Avison Young’s building consultancy division.
Goode is part of Avison Young’s industrial team and has 10 years of property experience.
James was promoted in January and is part of the firm’s valuation division. Like Skerrett and Shore, he joined the company from GVA, where he had worked for four years as a chartered surveyor.
Chris Cheap, Avison Young principal and managing director for UK Regions, praised the newly promoted workers.
“These promotions reflect the hardworking and diligent performance delivered across the team, and they have all excelled within their roles during a challenging period in 2021,” Cheap said.
“At Avison Young, we are a business that is powered by people, and we think it’s essential to recognise those who are innovative and agile thinkers.”
Avison Young also announced several promotions to associate director.
In the Manchester office, Emma Sandham and Shola Oso were promoted to associate directors in the planning and property management divisions, respectively. Over in the building consultancy team, Andy Brooks and Fergus Lowry were also made associate directors.
In Liverpool, Ben Woodcock and Jack Neild were named associate directors. Both joined Avison Young in 2016. Woodcock is a member of the land and development team, while Neild is with the energy and natural resources group.
“We are proud to recognise the work that Ben and Jack have demonstrated throughout their time at Avison Young,” said Stephen Cowperthwaite, principal and managing director for Avison Young’s Liverpool office.
“By driving our values and pushing their performance on a daily basis, they have managed to achieve this well-earned promotion,” Cowperthwaite continued. “I have been fortunate enough to have seen Ben and Jack rise through the ranks since they joined us six years ago and they reflect the potential for Avison Young’s future leaders. Congratulations to them both!”
