Drivers Jonas Deloitte today announces the appointment of Richard Owen as managing partner of Drivers Jonas Deloitte with effect from 1 January 2012. Owen is a partner and head of the real estate management and valuation group at Drivers Jonas Deloitte, and will take over the role of managing partner from Nick Shepherd.
Shepherd will return to a client facing role in the firm, where he will focus principally on property investor clients and new projects. He will continue to serve on Deloitte’s Executive board as part of the senior leadership team.
Owen said: “It is now 18 months since the creation of Drivers Jonas Deloitte and under Nick’s leadership the business has made a successful transition to become a fully integrated part of Deloitte. The time is now right to consider a change in leadership and I am delighted to be taking over from Nick, who has completed more than 10 years as managing partner.
“As managing partner, I’ll continue to shape and influence our business in its strategic direction and the way we work with clients. I will ensure that we continue to engage with our traditional clients and markets whilst building distinctive client relationships through the broader suite of insights and expertise that a multi-disciplinary business like Deloitte provides. The transaction has presented excellent opportunities for our staff to flourish in the dynamic and progressive Deloitte environment, whilst at the same time maintaining our offer to clients as part of a comprehensive blend of integrated services in audit, tax, consulting and corporate finance.
“In addition to an extraordinary corporate client-base, the wider Deloitte business gives unparalleled access to international investors, property companies, sovereign wealth funds and high net worth individuals, who play such a key role in the operation of the UK property market. This access not only adds to our client-base, but also opens up new opportunities for our existing clients.”
Shepherd added: “It has been a privilege to lead our business through a period of intense change in the industry over the last 10 years. I am pleased to pass on Drivers Jonas Deloitte in good shape to Richard Owen, an accomplished partner with a proven track record in leading and developing our general practice surveying businesses. I look forward to making a continuing contribution both as a partner in our Asset and Property Management business, where I shall focus on investor clients and new projects, and as part of the leadership team for the wider Deloitte firm.”
Owen joined Drivers Jonas in 1988 from the Valuation Office, and has more than 25 years’ experience in general practice surveying including rating, valuation, property management, regeneration and compulsory purchase. His recent experience has included advising on the land acquisition for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games and before that the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (now HS1) He is a chartered surveyor and member of the RICS policy panel on Compulsory Purchase and Compensation.
Shepherd will continue as managing partner of Drivers Jonas Deloitte until the end of 2011.