Savills appoints Luke Kearns as head of lettings in Edinburgh
Savills has appointed Luke Kearns as head of lettings in Edinburgh.
After spending five years at Marsh & Parsons in Notting Hill, Kearns joined Knight Frank in South Kensington. He brings experience from London’s prime lettings market and returns to Scotland, where he was raised and educated, to lead the Edinburgh team.
His role will focus on service delivery, portfolio development and client advisory, as the Scottish rental sector adjusts to recent regulatory and market changes. He will work with colleagues across Scotland and the wider UK network to support customers amid continued tenant demand and improving landlord confidence.
Kearns said: “This has been an important period for Scotland’s rental sector, but now with greater clarity and strong, sustained demand from tenants, I am looking forward to supporting landlords with clear guidance and helping them make confident decisions as new opportunities emerge. I am delighted to return to Scotland and join Savills in Edinburgh – it is a fantastic market to be part of.”
John Forsyth, residential director of Savills Edinburgh, commented: “Edinburgh remains one of the most sought-after cities in the UK. Its highly regarded universities create a strong graduate talent pool, with many young professionals choosing to stay as professionals. Steady migration from the rest of the UK and overseas, and the city’s appeal as a vibrant capital, helps to create a deep and reliable tenant base.”
Amelia Green, Head of Savills UK Lettings, said: “Luke brings valuable experience, strong leadership skills and a deep understanding of the lettings sector. His appointment reinforces our commitment to providing best-in-class advice to clients across the City. With the market showing new stability and continued tenant demand, landlords are once again looking for opportunities, and Luke is exceptionally well placed to support them in doing so.”
Cushman & Wakefield’s Yvonne Court to retire after 36 years at the firm
Yvonne Court, international partner and head of Cushman & Wakefield’s EMEA Cross Border Retail & Leisure team, will retire at the end of March after more than 36 years with the firm.
She joined Healy & Baker in 1989 as head of retail research and consulting, later joining the EMEA cross-border retail and leisure team in 2010. Since 2020, he has led the team, and advised Occupiers on market entry, global location strategy and agency mandates.
Over the course of his career, Court has worked on assignments with retailers, F&B brands and developers across all populated continents, and has produced an extensive body of research and publications on global retail property markets. He has also held roles on the EMEA Retail board and last year received the Outstanding Contribution Award from Grow Retail.
Court said: “I feel incredibly fortunate to lead and be involved in many diverse and exciting global projects at Cushman & Wakefield. The retail and leisure landscape has changed beyond recognition over the past few decades. I have always been fascinated by how people shop: finding out what consumers really want, finding out how behaviors evolve, and seeing first-hand how shopping habits vary across regions and cultures. Ultimately, it’s the consumer. are what drive the retail real estate market.”
Rob Travers, Head of EMEA Retail at Cushman & Wakefield, commented: “It has been a privilege to work with Yvonne for the past 15 years. Her dedication and leadership have made a profound impact on our business and the many clients and colleagues she works with around the world. We are incredibly grateful for her commitment and the lasting contribution she has made to Cushman & Wakefield.”
VanDome Growth Partners appoints Jason Bryant as head of growth
VanDome Growth Partners has appointed Jason Bryant as its new Head of Growth.
Bryant, who has over 20 years of experience in the mortgage and property sectors, will lead the strategic expansion of the company and manage a team of growth experts.
In his role, he will focus on supporting advisory firms across the UK, meeting them personally to understand their individual needs and matching them with the appropriate OneDome services.
“No two consulting companies are alike, which is why a personal visit is so important,” Bryant said. “You can’t understand a firm’s culture, its challenges and its true ambitions from behind a screen. My role, supported by our team of growth experts, is to be on the ground, listening to business owners and matching the right OneDome proposition to their specific needs. I’m excited to lead this talented team as we help more companies unlock their growth potential.”
Bryant’s appointment reflects his extensive industry experience and his work building relationships with advisory firms. He will continue to provide practical support while leading a team to expand the reach of VanDome Growth Partners across the UK.
“We are thrilled to have Jason take on this expanded leadership role,” said Babek Ismail, Founder and CEO of OneDome Group. “His dedication to understanding the nuances of individual advisor businesses aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing truly specialized growth solutions. By empowering Jason to lead a larger team, we are strengthening our promise to be a true partner to the advisor community.”