Savills has made two senior appointments within its Scottish residential business, naming Harry Maitland as head of its Scottish Country House team and Peter Walker as head of residential in Glasgow. The changes come as Guy Grainger prepares to leave JLL and Cluttons appoints a former BNP Paribas valuation chief as partner.
Savills strengthens Scottish residential leadership
Maitland succeeds Jamie Macnab, who has led the Scottish Country House team for 36 years. Macnab will now concentrate on the St Andrews market, where he will continue working in the prime country house sector. Maitland first joined Savills 16 years ago and returned to the firm in 2019 following a period working in Canada. He has worked alongside Macnab for several years, specialising in Scotland’s prime residential market.
His appointment follows Walker’s promotion earlier this year. Walker joined Savills in 2018 and now oversees its residential operations across Glasgow and the West of Scotland. His remit covers an extensive geographical area, stretching from Dumfries to Inverness.
Cameron Ewer, head of residential for Scotland and the North West of England at Savills, said both appointments recognised the experience developed within the business. He commented: “Harry and Peter are outstanding examples of the calibre of people we have across our residential business. They have built deep market knowledge and trusted client relationships over many years, and their appointments enhance our leadership team as we continue to support clients across Scotland.”
Ewer added: “Peter’s progression has been a pleasure to watch, having worked alongside him since he joined the Glasgow team.”
Maitland said: “It is a real privilege to take on this role and build on the strong foundations already in place.” He added that Scotland’s country house market continued to present opportunities for the business.
Walker commented: “Having joined Savills in 2018, I am proud to have taken on this role and to lead such a talented team. The strength of our business has always been the quality of our people and their deep knowledge of the markets in which they operate.”
Guy Grainger to depart JLL
Guy Grainger, JLL’s former UK and EMEA chief executive, is leaving the property consultancy at the end of the year after 18 years with the business. Grainger, currently global head of energy and sustainability services, announced his departure on LinkedIn. He intends to explore new leadership opportunities in 2027, particularly in sustainability, clean energy and social impact.
He joined JLL in 2008 following its acquisition of retail property agency Churston Heard. Grainger became chief executive of JLL’s UK business in 2013 before taking charge of its operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in 2016. In 2021, he moved into a global role overseeing sustainability services and ESG. He has also served on JLL’s Global Executive Board. Grainger was president of the British Property Federation in 2022.
Announcing his departure, he said: “Thank you to everyone who has enabled me to continually learn and develop. I have been inspired by the pioneering leadership of people I have met … a big thanks for the support, trust and experiences along the way.” Grainger said his “next adventure will start in 2027” following a “little holiday”. He added: “I am excited to explore leadership roles where I can make a positive impact – particularly across the social, environmental and clean energy space. Watch this space.”
Cluttons hires Jason Smith as partner
Cluttons has appointed Jason Smith as a partner in its Newcastle office, following his departure from BNP Paribas Real Estate. Smith previously led valuation activity across North East England at BNP Paribas Real Estate. He brings more than 30 years’ experience in commercial and residential property valuation.
A chartered surveyor and RICS Registered Valuer, Smith has worked across the North East, Cumbria and Yorkshire. At Cluttons, he will advise clients on valuations for loan security, financial reporting and property transactions. His experience covers residential development, hospitality, healthcare, senior living and purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA). He also specialises in trading properties, having spent more than a decade valuing businesses and going concerns across the hospitality, leisure, healthcare and retail sectors.
His arrival follows the appointment of Andrew Rutter as head of Cluttons’ Newcastle office earlier this year. The latest hire forms part of the firm’s wider recruitment programme. Over the past 12 months, Cluttons has expanded teams across London, Manchester, Newcastle, Oxford, Reading and Glasgow.
John Gravett, chief executive of Cluttons, said: “Jason’s appointment is another important step in strengthening our valuation capability across the regions. He brings a wealth of experience across the commercial real estate market, alongside specialist expertise in trading properties that will provide real value to clients operating in some of the UK’s most dynamic sectors.”
