Australasian retail property expert Chris Ireland has been internally appointed as National Director, Retail Sales & Leasing, and General Manager of the Christchurch operations of Savills New Zealand. He took up the role on 1 May.
A long-time leader in the company, Ireland, who grew up in Hawkes Bay, moved to Sydney in 1989 and joined Savills in 2004, cultivating an excellent reputation and enormous contact book through his work for major retail property owners and luxury brands in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
Ireland returns to New Zealand from long-time roles as State Director (WA) Asset Management and Director of Retail Services for Savills Australia. In Christchurch he will lead the agency sales and leasing divisions and an additional asset management team for The Palms Shopping Centre in Shirley.
Having already visited Christchurch before getting his feet under the desk, Ireland says, “On a walk-through of the CBD, I identified a lot of opportunities here for global retail brands that I’ve worked with. Ours is a relationship-based business and over the years I have built up relationships with 90% of the retail brands in Australia.
“There is a tremendous amount of service and value and a point of difference we can bring to the landlords of those CBD assets in Christchurch and in other New Zealand cities, and I have a lot of ideas for them. I am particularly keen to see further growth of our retail management and leasing business. I am excited about seeing what we can do.”
The Palms Shopping Centre, NZ
Savills New Zealand Managing Director Ryan Geddes says, “Chris has a market-leading specialty in retail investment sales and development leasing, working with major players including Westfield and Scentre Group, and is experienced in virtually every angle of development. He has brought new shopping centres in greenfield sites out of the ground and fully leased them, expanded existing centres, and led maintenance and infill leasing programmes.
“He is a skilled and respected negotiator and deal-maker, and under the Savills banner he has done high-end leasing for the likes of Crown in Melbourne and secured strong deals at every level of the retail market. Chris has nurtured and maintained enduring relationships in Asia Pacific with many global brands, and brought to fruition significant projects that span local, national, and Australasian and Asian markets.
“Chris has unparalleled expertise in driving national retail operations and realising strategic visions that deliver value for owners and consumers, and he knows how to take a retail centre or CBD shopping zone to the next level. We are delighted to have him back in New Zealand, bringing his skills and energy to the local market.”
Ireland is already expanding his team, bringing in Alex Brackstone to add retail leasing expertise. Brackstone will be undertaking the role of office and retail leasing executive based in the Savills Australia & New Zealand, Christchurch office.
