Atkins moves to NJL in non-exec role

John Atkins, managing director of Manchester Airports Group development, is to join NJL Consulting as non-executive director on his departure from MAG in December.

Atkins' move from MAG was announced in September, after 24 years with the airport. Atkins was formerly Airport City director before moving to the managing director role in 2007. He joined the development team as strategy and development director in 2003, but has been with MAG since 1990.

A key aspect of his role as managing director was the management of the MAG real estate portfolio, which includes £550m of offices, logistics and hotels. Atkins played a major role in drawing up plans for the ongoing £800m Airport City Manchester development, with development manager Argent and investors the Greater Manchester Pension Fund and Beijing Engineering & Construction Group, and contractor Carillion.

Alongside his non-executive director appointment with NJL, it is understood that Atkins will become the founding partner in a strategic land company.

Atkins' appointment further strengthens the NJL Consulting team following the announcement last month that Alan Murch had joined as non-executive chair. The team works with clients including Peel Holdings, LaSalle Investment Management, The Co-operative Group, Henry Boot, West Register and Roundhouse Properties.

Nick Lee, managing director of NJL Consulting, said: "John's appointment is a major coup for NJL and will be a huge step forward in our evolution as a commercial planning consultancy. John's appointment reaffirms and builds upon our position in the North West market and beyond. He has decades of experience in the fields of property, planning and regeneration and, together with the commercial expertise of Alan Murch, we are in a really strong position to take the firm forward."

Established in 2003, NJL is a planning consultancy based in Manchester and operating throughout the UK.