A top business strategist with 25 years’ experience in change management and consultancy has been hired by a property firm as it embarks on a new phase of ambitious growth over the next five years.
Ben Southworth has joined Fisher German as its new Chief Operating Officer to drive the delivery of the firm’s growth strategy and to lead its shared services team as the company looks to consolidate its recent success of growing to have more than 800 employees across 26 offices.
He will work closely with the directors in Fisher German’s shared services division, which includes functions such as HR, IT, finance, marketing and communications, to deliver a clear and cohesive plan for the division to support the business’s operations and future growth plans.
Ben was part of the senior team that led the rescue and turnaround plan for the Co-op Group during its period of crisis in 2014, and has also worked for Deloitte, KPMG, and Accenture.
More recently, Ben oversaw the growth of start-up Place Capital Group, which advises local authorities and housing associations on the design and delivery of social housing. Within three years the business now employs over 50 people.
Ben said: “I’m very pleased to have joined a company like Fisher German, which is at a key juncture in its growth and is hungry to progress even further.
“With its many areas of expertise in agency, advisory services, infrastructure services, and property management, it will be important to ensure all areas of the business are working together towards a common goal while continuing to deliver an excellent service for our clients and winning new work.
“I think my range of experience both in management consultancy and change management – especially my recent work in the housing sector – will enable me to provide informed strategic and operational support to Fisher German as it continues on its upward curve.”
Andrew Bridge, Managing Partner at Fisher German, added: “Fisher German’s growth, both through organic means as well as acquisitions, has got the company to a stage where it is ready to take that next leap into a new era.
“Reflecting on our business plans for 2024-29, we need the correct structure and operational efficiencies in place to realise our ambitions. As such, we have appointed Ben to lead shared services as I focus on my other responsibilities to the Partnership, our clients and the wider firm.
“Ben’s track record in ensuring all parts of a business work harmoniously to deliver excellent results meant we felt he would be well-placed to help Fisher German do the same.
“After weathering the storm of the pandemic and the subsequent challenges of the property market to grow to our largest size, we’re looking forward to building on this success with Ben as our new COO.”
