Bilfinger GVA’s Rawstron to retire

Regional senior director and head of Bilfinger GVA’s Manchester office Mark Rawstron is set to retire at the end of the year, to be replaced by office agency director Chris Cheap.

Cheap will take over the role as of 1 January 2017.

Rawstron’s retirement signals the end of a 30-year association with national consultancy Bilfinger GVA, after joining Grimley & Son 30 years ago. The company became GVA Grimley in 1998, merged with Bilfinger in 2014, and the property division acquired by Swedish private equity company EQT in June.

The Manchester office has 185 staff.

Rawstron, who has been behind some of the largest investment and development funding projects in the city, including the recent sale of One St Peter’s Square to Deka Immobilien for £164m, said his decision to retire was down to his desire to pursue personal interests.

He said: “For me, now is the right time to retire and pass on the role as head of office to Chris who I’m sure will do a great job.

“There’s no doubt that I wanted to get One St Peter’s Square over the line before announcing my retirement. As one of the largest regional investment deals post-Brexit it would be a vote of confidence in the city that major overseas capital flows would still see Manchester as an attractive investment location.

“Chris is one of the most respected office agents in the city and I wish Chris all the best in what will be a challenging but exciting and rewarding role.”

Cheap has been with Bilfinger GVA for 13 years. He said: “Mark leaves the office in a really good place and will be a tough act to follow. However, I believe I can bring a new dynamic to the role, which reflects the vibrancy of the Bilfinger GVA team in Manchester.

“I’m incredibly lucky that I’m surrounded and supported by some professionals in the Manchester office from a wide range of service lines and I will be drawing on this support going forward. It is this team approach that enables us to offer our clients a complete property solution.”

David Winterbottom, senior director in the capital markets team, will take over Rawstron’s city centre projects.