Jonathon Matthews has been appointed group managing director of M&G Property and Development Consultants (MGPDC) and McLaughlins Chartered Surveyors, to spearhead the group’s expansion plans.
A residential valuation specialist, Jonathon formerly headed CBRE’s residential valuation business in the UK regions and was head of the former DTZ’s Midlands residential valuation business. Following two years running his own housing development company, he latterly worked as a regional valuer at Valunation. He is an experienced expert witness specialising in residential valuation and mixed-use development.
Stoke–based McLaughlins was founded in 1977. Originally focussing on property valuation and building surveying, the company now offers asset management, property development and construction advice, and boasts eight offices, largely in the Midlands and North.
MGPDC was set up in 2019 to acquire and invest in property advisory companies, including surveyors, estate agencies, architects and structural engineers.
Jonathon said: “We have ambitious plans to grow the business by acquiring established property consultants. Business is very challenging for many small independents in the property sector at the moment. They have been hit by alarming increases in professional indemnity (PI) insurance and the coronavirus pandemic has reduced workloads. Many of these businesses are run by senior, experienced practitioners, looking for an exit route.
“Our aim is to bring them into the MGPDC fold, providing capital investment and operational support, and removing the PI headache through economies of scale. Businesses in London and South East are currently of particular interest to us, so we can grow our national reach.”
Sean McLaughlin, co-owner of M&GPDC and McLaughlins, said: “Jonathon will bring the best of the corporate world to an established and successful family-owned business. We have the cash and appetite for expansion and look forward to growing the business with Jonathon’s assistance.”
