Knight Frank grows valuations business with seven new appointments

Gavin Spreyer

Knight Frank has appointed three partners, three associates and two senior surveyors as part of a strategic expansion to its valuations business.

Gavin Spreyer has joined the team as a partner, having spent almost 20 years at Cushman & Wakefield (previously DTZ). Gillian Bowman, who similarly focused on valuations in her previous role at BNP Paribas, has also been appointed partner, with specific focus on the retail sector. Karen Callahan, partner, has joined the hotels team, having previously worked for Dolce Hotels & Resorts, who have more recently become Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. All will report to global head of valuations, Rupert Johnson, and assist with further growth of the valuations business, now totalling some 180 people across the UK.

Joining as associates are Isma Ali, Alistair Johnstone and Will Garner. Will returns to Knight Frank after a sabbatical slotting back into his previous role, assisting in loan security and fund valuations in the City. Isma and Alistair both joined from CBRE, and will be focusing on retail valuations and Central London commercial valuations respectively.

In addition, two senior surveyors, Matthew Dichler and Shrav Khera have joined. Shrav, from BNP Paribas, will focus on portfolio valuations, reporting to Michael Crowe – while Matthew, from Colliers in Dubai, where he was a senior valuer, will be working on valuation of portfolio assets.

Four new team members have also been recruited to the residential development valuations team over the past two years.

The team are currently the second largest provider of valuations to all three IPD indices, and have recently won mandates from Scottish Widows, to value multiple assets nationally, Standard Life, UBS, Kames Capital and Orchard Street, and have increased exponentially their exposure to active lending banks.

Rupert Johnson, Global Head of Valuations at Knight Frank, commented: “I’m delighted to have so many new joiners to the team from a number of backgrounds and at all levels of seniority. In the ever changing arena of volatility; both political, social and economic, it is as important as ever that Knight Frank valuations can offer advice and due diligence, for current and future clients across all sectors. The new recruits increase the depth, breadth and seniority of experience we can offer.”