Former Birmingham City Council finance manager, James Dair has joined the Midlands office of leading property advisor, Bilfinger GVA.
A well respected and widely regarded figure in the property and finance sectors, James Dair has joined the company as Head of Public Sector Finance, a new role within the regional office.
James’s appointment is aimed at enhancing the financial and regeneration skills already present in the business while providing an additional level of experience and proficiency.
An accountant by training and fully qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountancy, James spent 10 years at Birmingham City Council where he undertook financial structuring and modelling for key developments including the £500 million Paradise regeneration scheme, Icknield Port Loop residential development, and the landmark redevelopment of Grand Central and New Street Station.
James has also acted as financial lead for the Enterprise Zone Revised Investment Plan on behalf of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP), and the Curzon Street Masterplan.
James Dair, said: “This is an exciting time in the Midlands generally and Birmingham specifically, with regeneration and development being undertaken on an unparalleled scale. Bilfinger GVA has an active involvement in some of the most high-profile transformative schemes in the region and I am looking forward to the fresh opportunities that this new role will provide.”
James’s role will focus on the delivery of advice on strategic investment for both public and private sector clients and will be part of the Financial Consulting Fee Group within the company’s Planning, Development and Regeneration business unit.
Stephen Hollowood, Senior Director and Head of Planning, Development and Regeneration in the Midlands, said: “James’s appointment is about building on the experience already in place within the business but providing an additional level of depth and proficiency. He is a natural fit for the team and his expertise, coupled with an outstanding commercial acumen, will be entirely complementary to the projects on which we are already focused alongside new schemes that are currently in the pipeline.
“His track record in establishing and implementing corporate governance arrangements for large scale, complex strategic and development schemes will be of significant benefit to the ongoing development of our client services.”
Prior to joining Bilfinger GVA, James has also accrued experience as Finance and Tax Director at LSH.
Ian Stringer, Midlands Regional Senior Director, said: “James’s appointment is a very significant one for us. This new role, backed by his extensive experience will ensure that we are well positioned to advise our clients on how to maximise opportunities and benefits throughout the on-going resurgence in large scale public/private sector joint venture development and regeneration projects..
“By appointing James, Bilfinger GVA is making a key investment into the future and ensuring that the business is correctly aligned to meet the growing demands and needs of of our public and private sector developer and land owning clients across the Midlands.
