Savills Strengthens San Diego Presence and Expands West Coast Life Sciences Capabilities with Addition of Elite Team and New Market Leader

SAN DIEGO (November 1, 2023) – Savills is significantly bolstering its presence in San Diego, while simultaneously expanding the reach of its North American Life Sciences practice to a critical market, with the acquisition of industry veterans Shane Poppen, Craig Knox, and Zach Millrood. Savills has tapped Poppen to serve as San Diego market leader and also as West region co-leader of the firm’s Life Sciences practice alongside Knox.

Poppen, Knox, and Millrood will join as vice chairmen, bringing decades of experience to Savills. They are widely considered to be one of the leading tenant advisory teams in San Diego and have represented a diverse range of companies, locally and across geographies. Since 2006, the team has completed thousands of transactions together totaling over fifty million square feet.

“Shane, Craig, and Zach are amongst the most accomplished tenant advisors in the region, yet their client requirements span global markets. While they will continue to represent a wide-range of occupiers, their experience in the biotech space creates a unique opportunity to fully integrate our life sciences practice within one of North America’s critical hubs,” said Savills West Region President Patrick McGrath. “The team brings elite deal making acumen, zealous client advocacy, and a strong reputation within the San Diego community – they are an incredible cultural fit for Savills.”

Poppen is a proven leader who specializes in providing real estate strategy and complex transaction advisement for biotech, medical device, instrumentation, and healthcare companies. Knox is a San Diego native with deep knowledge of the local market and has represented hundreds of companies on their real estate matters. Finally, Millrood has completed engagements in all major markets and cities nationwide and has expertise in assisting Southern California occupiers in managing multi-market property portfolios.

“Life sciences is one of the fastest-moving and resilient sectors in the commercial real estate sphere today, and San Diego continues to be one of the top markets for activity,” said North America Life Sciences Practice Lead Austin Barrett. “The team’s ability to anticipate the specialized needs of companies within the life sciences sector, combined with their expertise, has positioned them as trusted advisors for occupiers. Their addition complements our rapidly growing practice and allows us to provide industry-leading services and customized solutions for clients across the sector.”

As they focus on growing the firm's broader tenant advisory services across the west region, Poppen, Knox, and Millrood will also be collaborating closely with Barrett and the broader North American life sciences team on global initiatives. The acquisition of the team underscores the firm's ongoing investment in strengthening its life science platform – a commitment further highlighted by the recent appointment of Zak Snider as Senior Managing Director in its Raleigh office.

With more than 40 offices and over 900 employees in North America, Savills provides local and international clients with an integrated platform of services and solutions encompassing tenant representation, workplace strategy, capital markets, workforce and incentives strategy, labor analytics, project management, and additional areas of commercial real estate.