BNPPRE ramps up industrial & logistics agency growth with consultancy founder hire

Paul Smyth, Senior Director, national industrial & logistics agency team, BNP Paribas Real Estate.

BNP Paribas Real Estate (BNPPRE) has announced that industrial & logistics consultancy founder Paul Smyth has been appointed as Senior Director within its national industrial & logistics agency team.

With almost 30 years’ industry experience and as a renowned industrial and logistics specialist across the occupier and trade counter markets, Paul joins from PKS Property, which he established in 2009. Prior to this, he held roles at Atisreal (now part of BNPPRE) and Chesterton International. He is known across the industry for his work with occupiers and has acted for a variety of clients including Travis Perkins, CCF, Wickes and GXO.

Paul has joined the team led by Ben Wiley, which recently announced that it had doubled in size. He is based in London and will support the national team as it provides expertise to its rapidly expanding occupier client base against the backdrop of the current lack in supply across the market.

Ben Wiley, Head of Industrial & Logistics Agency at BNP Paribas Real Estate commented: “As a division, we have been working to place talent along the width and breadth of the UK. With supply lacking, strategic advisory is more important than ever before. We will not be one to rest on our laurels when it comes to providing our clients with market-leading intelligence and advisory, and bringing Paul on board, a leading consultant with an impressive roster of trade counter and occupier clients, was a no brainer for us.”

Paul Smyth, Senior Director, Industrial & Logistics Agency at BNP Paribas Real Estate commented: “Having worked for Atisreal before it became BNPPRE many years ago, I’ve watched first hand as the business has grown and reshaped itself. Coming back at a time where its offer, positioning and talent acquisition strategy is gaining huge momentum throughout the market feels right. I look forward to working closely with Ben and the team to deliver exceptional value and expertise for our clients.”

Paul’s hire follows the flurry of appointments within the industrial and logistics agency team across the key offices in London, Bristol, Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds and Newcastle including Mark Rothwell as Investment Director, Bristol; Giles Thomas as a Senior Director in the National Logistics and Agency team; and in BNPPRE’s development of the next generation of talent, Rebecca Hewitt, Joey Higham, Zach Heppner-Logan, Chris Harris and Luke Whitmarsh as Graduate and Senior Surveyors.