A leading Midlands-based property professional with more than 36 years’ experience in the commercial property sector, has been appointed as the new chairman of the British Council for Offices (BCO) Midlands and East Anglia chapter.
Danny Parmar, business development manager at office fit out and refurbishment specialist, Overbury, takes over from former chair of two and a half years, regional director of Argent, Rob Groves.
A member of BCO’s committee in the Midlands since 2011, Danny is also the founder and current chairman of the BCO East Anglia sub-chapter. The two committees have a combined membership of 379 people.
Danny will lead the BCO in the Midlands as it focuses on promoting best practice in the industry through its awards schemes and hosting events at iconic new projects. He will also be responsible for championing BCO-led and other topical research in the region, as well as engaging new and existing members to help promote the creation of a better office environment for occupiers.
Danny Parmar said: “I’m delighted to take over as the new chairman of the BCO Midlands and East Anglia chapter and would like to thank my predecessor, Rob Groves, for doing an outstanding job of representing the BCO in the region.
“It’s an exciting time for the commercial property industry in the Midlands, with continued investment in office space and major new developments in the pipeline. We are also seeing advances in building design and refurbishment, creating better working environments capable of making a huge impact on every aspect of people’s lives.
“The BCO produces industry-leading research to promote best practice throughout the sector and help improve workplaces. As this work is funded entirely through membership fees, I’m looking forward to working with the committee to bring the BCO’s work to a wider audience of industry professionals in both the Midlands and East Anglia.”
As business development manager at Overbury for most of his career, Danny has worked in London, Cambridge and Birmingham. He has been involved in a string of major office fit out and refurbishment projects, including 55 Colmore Row in Birmingham on behalf of RICS, Savills and Pinsent Masons, and the recent £7million fit out of WSP’s new regional headquarters at the Mailbox.
BCO chief executive, Richard Kauntze, said: “We are delighted to welcome Danny as chairman of the British Council for Offices in the Midlands and East Anglia. He is a hugely experienced, respected and well-connected member of the property sector, with a considerable understanding of the evolving requirements of occupiers in this region. These are undoubtedly exciting times for the office sector as many major new developments get underway and we look forward to supporting Danny in promoting BCO-led research and best practice knowledge to a growing audience.”
Established in 1990, the BCO is Britain’s leading forum for the discussion and debate of issues affecting the office sector. Its members are organisations involved in creating, acquiring or occupying office space, including architects, lawyers, surveyors, financial institutions and public agencies.