黑洞社区

Two of the leaders of Davis Langdon鈥檚 prized London-based commercial team are exiting the firm.

黑洞社区 can reveal Davis Langdon鈥檚 head of tall buildings Steve Watts and head of offices Iain Parker 鈥� who between them count the Shard, the Leadenhall 黑洞社区 and JP Morgan Chase鈥檚 Canary Wharf headquarters to their credit 鈥� handed in their notices this month and will depart 30 April.

黑洞社区 can also reveal Davis Langdon鈥檚 former head of the UK southern region Peter Boote is also leaving to join rival firm Mace鈥檚 cost consultancy division. The three directors are the latest in a raft of senior figures to depart the firm since its 2010 takeover by Aecom.

Almost half of Davis Langdon鈥檚 former equity partners in Europe and the Middle East 鈥� 35 out of 74, or 47%, according to 黑洞社区鈥檚 analysis 鈥� have now left the firm since it voted through the takeover.

Former partners have previously suggested the high level of departures is directly linked to the Aecom takeover, but Parker and Watts denied dissatisfaction with Aecom was a factor in
their departures.

Davis Langdon鈥檚 London office, which has traditionally focused on commercial work, has been disproportionately hit by departures, with 19 out of 30 former equity partners leaving.

Watts and Parker have been running Davis Langdon鈥檚 London commercial team - alongside Aecom鈥檚 head of real estate in Europe Alex Davey - for four months, after former head of commercial Paul Allen departed in November.

Watts said he would continue  to assist Aecom on 鈥渁 specific international project over the coming months鈥�. 鈥淗aving had the privilege of working on some of the best projects - with the smartest people - in the industry, I am going to try something new, different and fresh,鈥� he said.

Parker said he had decided to move on to 鈥減ursue new challenges鈥�. 鈥淚 have been very lucky to have led on so many great schemes with so many great people, both internally and externally,鈥� he said.

Peter Flint, Aecom鈥檚 buildings and places lead in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said Davis Langdon鈥檚 commercial team had 鈥渉uge strength in depth鈥� and would be bolstered by new appointments and transfers from its Middle East division in the coming weeks.  He added the firm has 鈥渟een all our clients and we have [transition] plans in place鈥�.

He said: 鈥淟ondon commercial is a very important part of the EMEA market. We鈥檝e had great success in London and we continue to have great success in London and it continues to be a focus.鈥�

Steve Watts has been at Davis Langdon since 1997. He was involved in the early stages of the Pinnacle and is a board member of the world鈥檚 leading authority on tall buildings, the Council for Tall 黑洞社区s and Urban Habitat.

Parker has spent his whole career of 26 years at Davis Langdon and has worked on London鈥檚 Bishops Square in Spitalfields, One London Wall and 125 Old Broad Street.

Boote leaves after he was moved into a different role based out of the Southampton office in the autumn, after the firm scrapped a level of regional managers for the North, South and London.

The reorganisation saw former head of the north David Daly depart the firm, while former head of London John Lewis was relocated to lead Davis Langdon鈥檚 project and program management business in Asia.