The British Council for Offices (BCO) has announced the appointment of a new regional chairman in Cambridge.
Commercial real estate consultant, Mike Ayton, has been named chairman of the BCO’s East Anglia sub-chapter. He succeeds, Danny Parmar, business development manager of national fit out and refurbishment specialist, Overbury, who has been appointed as chairman of the Midlands and East Anglia region.
Mike, owner and director at niche commercial property agency, Juniper Real Estate, is one of the founding members of the East Anglia committee, which was formed in Cambridge in 2016.
Mike will lead the BCO in the region as it focuses on promoting industry best practice through its awards schemes and hosting technical tours of office projects and seminars on current topics. He will also be responsible for championing BCO-led and other topical research, as well as engaging new and existing members to help promote the creation of a better office environment for occupiers.
Mike said: “It’s a huge honour to be appointed as the new chairman of the BCO East Anglia sub-chapter. I’d like to pay tribute to Danny Parmar for the work he has done in establishing the BCO’s presence in Cambridge and the wider region. I’ve been part of the sub-chapter from the outset and it’s been very pleasing to see the growing support and momentum that we have gathered in that time.
“Cambridge is an exciting place to live and work and one of the most active regional office centres, with a mature lab and R&D market and a world renowned university. Through BCO membership, property professionals can gain access to industry-leading research and tours of world-leading facilities that aren’t available commercially or to the public. As this work is funded entirely through membership fees, I’m looking forward to working with my committee colleagues to bring the BCO’s work to a wider audience.”
Danny Parmar, chairman of the BCO Midlands and East Anglia chapter, said: “I’m thrilled to be handing over responsibility for this region to Mike. He is a highly experienced property professional with a deep knowledge and understanding of the evolving requirements of occupiers in Cambridge. As someone who has played an integral role in establishing the BCO’s presence in the area, he is extremely well placed to lead the sub-chapter into a new phase as we seek to promote the benefits of BCO membership and expose our industry leading research and best practice knowledge to a growing audience.”
A former senior director of CBRE, Mike Ayton has more than 30 years’ experience in the office, high tech and R&D sectors, including mixed use and business park development master planning, office design and specification, and development consultancy. A chartered surveyor and member of RICS, he established Cambridge-based Juniper Real Estate with co-director, Jamie Green, in 2009.
The BCO East Anglia sub-chapter covers Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire and Suffolk. It features representatives from a broad range of organisations, including the University of Cambridge, Max Fordham, AECOM, Mills & Reeve and Saunders Boston Architects.
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, developers, engineers, financial institutions and public agencies.
