Team set to manage growth strategy and support clients with evolving post-COVID demand.

A strong 2020 performance and evolving demand due to COVID sees Avison Young welcome Gary Imrie as director of property management accounts; Amanda Hallo as head of audit, quality and risk; Jonathan Aspinall as director and Becki Leonard as marketing manager within the firm’s marketing and engagement team.

Gary will draw on his extensive experience in process optimisation in accounting and operational systems to support the evolution of existing platforms. His robust accounting knowledge combined with a drive for improvement will enable his 130 strong UK-based team to capitalise upon the organisation’s appetite for transformation and both internal and client interaction with their high volumes of data.

Amanda will lead an established compliance and audit team based in the Midlands to focus on consistency, risk mitigation and best practice across client accounts and portfolios, bringing with her extensive experience in quality assurance, process improvement and insurance compliance.

Jonathan’s role sees him return to Avison Young after 12 years, bringing experience from across major real estate firms and ventures. He will spearhead the day to day management of the longstanding Brindleyplace instruction - also home to Avison Young’s Birmingham headquarters - working closely with asset manager Hines, occupiers and stakeholders to drive forward the estate’s position as a vibrant mixed-use city centre destination.

Bringing a strong consultancy and public sector track record, Becki’s appointment will enable the continued growth of the destination marketing team following a successful 2020. Responsible for leading place marketing strategies for public and private sector clients with a focus on retail, she will help investor clients navigate the safe return to the high street, as well as a national push for the public to Shop Local following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Richard Williams, Managing Director of the Real Estate Management team at Avison Young, said:
"Last year’s challenges drove us to prioritise engagement and the provision of insightful data and information for our real estate management clients.

“The daily communication with both clients and occupiers and the speed at which on the ground changes to operations and messaging was required relied upon the strength and skillset of our surveying and engagement and communications teams. Their ability to provide high-impact insights is dependent upon our accounting, reporting and contact platforms and needs continuous review, evolution and improvement to ensure we can provide best in class intelligence to our clients.

“By demonstrating investment in our people, platforms and approach, our work has become even more valuable which has helped us to grow, and to retain and attract even more talented individuals.”

The national team also welcomed two new faces and made a senior promotion in 2020, with Eleanor Warburton joining as business systems and training manager and Nicole Millen as Yardi System manager. Lydia Ellis was promoted to head of the destination marketing team, after more than seven years at Avison Young and a background in management roles for the likes of The NEC and Marketing Birmingham (now the West Midlands Growth Company).

Williams added:
“Avison Young is powered by its people, and in an uncertain and unrelenting landscape the growth of the real estate management team is testament to the unwavering efforts and value they are adding for our diverse client base.

“The new team members, and Lydia’s promotion, are vital to remaining agile and relevant in response to the market, ensuring we continue to build on our success and our ability to remain people-focused in our response in 2021.”