Savills announces succession plan

The Board of Savills has today 16 January 2018 announced the retirement of Jeremy Helsby as Savills Group Chief Executive effective 31 December 2018. Jeremy will be succeeded by Mark Ridley, currently CEO of Savills UK and Europe, effective 1 January 2019. Mark will also become Chairman of Savills Group Executive Board from the same date.

Mark Ridley, who joined Savills in 1996, has over 30 years Property experience in the UK, European and Asian markets.  He has been CEO of Savills UK Commercial business since May 2008, CEO of Savills UK since January 2013 and additionally of Savills Europe since September 2014. He has been a member of Savills Group Executive Board since its establishment in February 2008 and will join the Board of Savills plc as Deputy Group Chief Executive on 1 May 2018.

Mark’s appointment as Savills Deputy Group Chief Executive will see the implementation of succession plans within Savills UK & Europe, with James Sparrow, previously Head of Savills UK Professional Services business, taking on the role of Chief Executive of Savills UK & Europe effective 1 May 2018. In addition, and reflecting the size and growth of the UK business, Richard Rees will be appointed to a new role as UK Managing Director, supporting James, alongside his role as Head of National Development Services.

Jeremy Helsby, Group Chief Executive, comments: “I am delighted that Mark will succeed me as Group Chief Executive effective 1 January 2019 and I look forward to working closely with him over the next 12 months to ensure a smooth handover. I am very pleased that from January 2019 I will be able to support Savills in further growing its US business.”

Mark Ridley, Chief Executive of Savills UK & Europe, adds: “I have had ten very enjoyable years running first Savills Commercial, then from 2013 the combined Savills UK business and latterly from September 2014, Savills UK & Europe, during a period in which these businesses have grown substantially.  I am really excited by my new role as Group CEO of Savills plc from 1 January 2019 and look forward to the challenges and opportunities it will present.”

James Sparrow, Head of Savills UK Professional Services, says: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my  time as head of UK Professional Services and as a member of the Savills UK leadership team during the last 6 years and have taken great pleasure in helping to build the business during this period. I am very much looking forward to taking on the new role as Chief Executive of Savills UK & Europe from May 2018.”

Richard Rees, Head of National Development Services, says: “ I am delighted to take on the new role of UK Managing Director and look forward to working closely with James in supporting him as CEO of UK & Europe, further developing our UK business across all its sectors and nationally  across our office network.”