_National Head of Occupier Services Appointed

Knight Frank announces the appointment of Dermot Lowry as Partner, Head of Occupier Services, Australia. Mr Lowry joins the firm as of early August 2018. He was previously Director, Leasing – Office & Logistics at GPT for the past four years.

Based in Knight Frank’s Sydney office, Mr Lowry will join a growing, national team of trusted advisors in the Occupier Services space, including Matt Martin, Partner, Head of Occupier Services, Queensland; James O’Neill, Director, Occupier Services, New South Wales and Gordon Wyllie, Director, Occupier Services, Victoria.

Dermot brings with him a wealth of experience strong relationships on both sides of the table, from managing a team responsible for one of the largest industrial and office portfolios across Asia Pacific, to acting as tenant representative on behalf of various corporate occupiers in Australia and the Middle East.  He will be able to draw on broader experiences to further drive a customer-centric focus for the team, and will leverage Knight Frank’s national footprint to service clients with a national portfolio.

The significant appointment recognises the shift in the market which is increasingly occupier-led. The growth of the Occupier Services business is a key driver behind the evolution of the Australian property market, with more sophisticated occupiers demanding fully integrated property solutions, to support overall business success in a fast-changing global environment.

Traditionally a market sector focussed on sourcing premises and negotiating the best commercial outcomes, occupiers are now seeking a more integrated and embedded approach – with services including strategic advisory, portfolio management and project management all playing a key role. As the property sector transitions from a transactional to a consultancy model of operating, Knight Frank is looking to deliver the highest-level advisory service to our clients.

As part of this strategy, this month Knight Frank transitioned 80 senior leaders across Australia to a partnership model in line with our UK structure. The ‘Partner Program’ is a key element of the leadership plan, it is the foundation block for sustained success and will unite the leadership team with a mutual accomplishment and entrepreneurial focus.