Background
Clarksons PLC is the world's leading provider of integrated shipping services, supporting clients across the maritime, offshore, trade and energy sectors. Listed on the London Stock Exchange and operating from more than 50 offices worldwide, Clarksons combines global reach with deep industry expertise.
To support its continued operational excellence, Clarksons appointed Maxwell Stephens to recruit a Head of Facilities Management for its prestigious headquarters at Commodity Quay in London.
This senior appointment was responsible for leading all workplace, facilities and building operations across the headquarters, ensuring the business continued to operate safely, efficiently and to the highest professional standards.
The Challenge
The Head of Facilities Management role combined strategic leadership with hands-on operational responsibility, requiring an experienced facilities professional capable of managing a complex corporate headquarters while delivering exceptional service to employees, visitors and stakeholders.
The successful candidate would oversee every aspect of the workplace environment, ensuring the building remained fully compliant, operationally efficient and aligned with Clarksons' commitment to excellence.
Key responsibilities included:
- Leading all Facilities Management operations across Commodity Quay.
- Managing hard and soft FM services, including cleaning, security, maintenance and parking.
- Delivering refurbishment, renovation and workplace improvement projects.
- Ensuring full compliance with Health & Safety legislation and statutory requirements.
- Developing strong relationships with landlords, tenants, contractors and specialist consultants.
- Managing procurement, supplier performance and contract negotiations.
- Controlling operational budgets and delivering value for money.
- Providing technical leadership across building services.
- Acting as the senior point of contact during emergencies and business-critical incidents.
- Driving continuous improvement across workplace operations and service delivery.
Clarksons required a highly organised leader with excellent technical knowledge, commercial awareness and the interpersonal skills to engage confidently with stakeholders at every level of the organisation.
Our Approach
Maxwell Stephens worked closely with Clarksons' senior leadership team to develop a detailed understanding of the role, the organisation's culture and the operational demands of its headquarters.
Using our specialist Facilities Management network and executive search methodology, we identified professionals with proven experience leading facilities operations within complex corporate environments.
Our search focused on candidates who demonstrated:
- Senior Facilities Management leadership experience.
- Strong technical understanding of building services.
- Health & Safety and statutory compliance expertise.
- Commercial contract and supplier management capability.
- Financial management and budget control experience.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
- A proactive, solutions-focused leadership style.
Every shortlisted candidate underwent a rigorous assessment process to evaluate both technical capability and cultural fit, ensuring the successful appointment would support Clarksons' long-term operational objectives.
The Outcome
Maxwell Stephens successfully appointed an experienced Head of Facilities Management who brought the technical expertise, leadership capability and commercial acumen required to lead the Facilities function at Commodity Quay.
The successful candidate quickly assumed responsibility for workplace operations, supplier management and compliance, helping ensure the continued smooth running of one of the maritime industry's most prominent headquarters.
The appointment strengthened operational resilience, enhanced service delivery and reinforced Clarksons' commitment to providing a safe, efficient and professional working environment for employees, clients and visitors.
Results Delivered
- Successful appointment of a high-calibre Head of Facilities Management.
- Strengthened leadership across workplace and facilities operations.
- Enhanced management of hard and soft FM services.
- Improved contractor governance and supplier performance.
- Continued excellence in Health & Safety and statutory compliance.
- Effective management of workplace projects and building improvements.
- Long-term operational support for one of the world's leading shipping organisations.
Why Maxwell Stephens?
Maxwell Stephens specialises exclusively in the recruitment of senior Facilities Management, Workplace and Property professionals across corporate headquarters, financial services, legal, professional services and commercial real estate.
Our executive search approach enables organisations to secure leaders who combine technical expertise with the commercial awareness and leadership capability required to deliver exceptional workplace performance.