Carter Jonas has appointed Richard Bruce as its new chief executive.
Bruce, joining as an equity partner, takes up his new role in September 2023. Based out of the firm’s London headquarters, One Chapel Place, he will succeed Mark Granger, who has held the role since 1997, having been consistently re-elected by the Partnership. Granger will retire from the Partnership but remain with the business as a consultant, working alongside some of his long-standing estate clients.
Bruce has enjoyed an extensive career in leading professional services organisations. In 2015 he joined Colliers as chief operating officer (EMEA) and led the firm’s business planning initiative to double revenue, bringing together multiple business lines around a core focus of clients, people, technology and ESG. As part of this drive, he established specific transformation strategies in these areas to promote cohesion, productivity, innovation, talent retention and client satisfaction.
Before this, he was Director of Operations at Kennedy’s Law LLP, with a specific focus on leading change across technology, operations, and real estate. He has also held senior roles with multinational law firm SJ Berwin LLP, JP Morgan, and Hewlett Packard.
His appointment as Carter Jonas chief executive supports the business’s long-term objectives, and his unique experience in the property industry, combined with 15 years in the City of London leading transformation programmes across professional services industries, including law, finance, and technology, marks a new chapter in Carter Jonas’ senior management approach.
The company says that his expertise will be invaluable as Carter Jonas defines, develops, and advances a new growth strategy to take it into 2030 as it helps clients address some of the most critical issues facing the real estate industry.
Bruce said: “Carter Jonas combines a distinguished history with a collaborative culture and a tailored service approach to long-standing client relationships. Having got to know many of the team, I have seen first-hand the dedication and enthusiasm of its people, which is perhaps best exemplified by Mark Granger, and his commitment to the firm’s growth. As the industry evolves, I look forward to continuing this success, using my professional services leadership experience, and working with everyone across the Partnership, to continue to build the firm for the future, bringing together core skills, innovative technology, and solutions to support our markets.”
Granger commented: “Carter Jonas is almost unrecognisable from the firm I first joined as a graduate surveyor. Following a period of substantial growth, it is now a much larger, diverse operation reflecting not only our investment in organic growth, new offices, and merger and acquisition activity but also the care and attention we bring to our work and the positive response of our clients. We have a truly talented team of professionals working across multiple service lines and locations, and it has been a great pleasure to have led them over the last 25 years. Whilst we have achieved so much, in Richard we have a chance to learn from our development, to devise a new strategy that continues to respond to client demand whilst focusing on new challenges and opportunities.”
James Bainbridge, chairman of Carter Jonas, added: “Carter Jonas has experienced strong growth over the last few years, and thanks to the passion and dedication of Mark Granger’s leadership of our business, we have a strong platform from which we can continue to grow. On behalf of the Partnership and all our people, I thank Mark for his steadfast and abiding long-term contributions to our business. As we look ahead, I am confident that Richard is the best person to take the firm forward – to build upon the recent success and expand the business further. He has exceptional real estate experience, as well as insight from outside the industry. These attributes will be integral for both our clients and people as we plan for the next stage of our development.”
