We have a current opportunity for a CEO on a permanent basis. The position will be based in London. For further information about this position please apply.
Our client is a long-standing family business based in Central London, supported by an experienced and highly capable management team. As part of their long-term thinking, they have decided to appoint a CEO who will take over the day-to-day management of the business whilst ensuring the long-term future of the organisation and its activities.
This individual will be a strong strategic and operational leader, comfortable working in a family trust environment whilst delivering rigor, discipline, and best practice for the business. The role is responsible for a wide scope across the business, setting strategies and driving operational excellence whilst increasing the overall long-term asset value of the portfolio. The individual will ensure there is an effective connection between the various work streams through strong but sensitive communication with well-established direct reports as well linking to the Board on the broader organisation goals and objectives. The client’s strategic plan was updated earlier this year and gives a clear picture of the direction of the business and where the focus of this role needs to be.
The individual’s success will heavily depend on working well and interdependently with the in-house team and external stakeholders/advisers and the leadership team, as well as the family representatives. Relevant individuals are likely to be found in an organization which is established in either investment management and/or development and has a base activity in Central London commercial property. The role will be heavily focused on the prime London commercial property market and the ideal candidate’s history will have made them familiar with London commercial property as a specialist in one (or more) of Development, Investment or Asset Management functions. An individual who has a strong financial capability and has a practical understanding the financing of transactions will be of value, as will an individual who is happy to manage and develop teams. In addition, if the individual has had exposure to strategic land in their career, that would be a useful additional skill.
CEO/Managing Director Requirement
• Experience as a senior level Real Estate Director of a business with commensurate scale and complexity and a proven track record of managing and implementing organic growth whilst maintaining a baseline of operational excellence. They could be already at CEO/MD level or a Development/Investment/Asset Management Director who is one level down who could grow into the role and has showed the potential to do so.
• Experience in the commercial real estate industry with a genuine passion and natural affiliation to the sector, ideally with a background in offices or retail. Exposure to the residential and leisure sectors would be useful too.
• Portfolio growth will continue, and the new appointee will need to understand, assess, and act upon the agreed level of risk taken by the shareholders. The new appointee must have the ability to integrate new assets seamlessly as required and ensure that existing portfolio continues to perform effectively.
• The ability to take a mature proposition and work closely with the existing family stakeholders to deliver efficiencies, rigour and fit for purpose operating policies and procedures. It will be essential to have good and obvious skills in handling existing staff, particularly the four direct reports.
• Experience of successfully developing and implementing operational strategies and planning resources including people, financial and technology to achieve business objectives.
• Highly commercial and numerate, evidence of meeting and exceeding financial targets, driving top-line performance, profitability and delivering asset value.
• Used to working at a senior level with proven strong stakeholder management skills and experience of/or ability to work successfully within a private family office environment.
• A robust and resilient individual, with credible presence and executive impact.
• High intellectual capability, able to quickly grasp ideas, and deal with significant complexity.
• Thriving on challenge and innovation – happy to challenge the status quo and explore ‘new’ ways of doing things, or to suggest alternatives that address the needs of the wider business strategy.
• A strong and experienced leader with the ability to engage effectively at every level of the organization and who can build strong relationships across teams and stakeholders.
• Excellent people management skills with a reputation for strong communication, mentoring and leadership skills capable of inspiring diversified, multicultural, and decentralized teams.
• Low ego and accountable – taking ownership of problems and trying to fix them speedily and transparently, happy to deliver solutions through empowering the wider team.
• Is proactive rather than reactive, always thinking ahead to anticipate issues and potential blockers and to simplify complex processes.
• A self-starter, down-to-earth, high levels of energy and drive, a strong commitment to the business.
• Dynamic personality who places value on continuous learning and development.
• The ability to plan and prioritise, is self-motivated and a completer/finisher.
• ‘Can do’ attitude and non-hierarchical approach, happy to dive into operational detail when needed but knows when to step back and take a more strategic view.
• Passionate about the culture and values and is an ambassador for the business both internally and externally.
This is a very good quality position and one that will provide a fascinating challenge for a senior level real estate CEO or Managing Director.
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