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Background
Derwent London is one of the UK's leading Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and the largest property company focused exclusively on the central London commercial property market. Renowned for its design-led approach to property development, refurbishment and asset management, Derwent London owns and manages a portfolio of some of the capital's most distinctive office buildings.
With more than 5.6 million square feet of commercial real estate under management and a portfolio valued at over £5 billion, the company has built an outstanding reputation for creating inspiring workplaces that combine exceptional architecture, sustainability and operational excellence.
Following a significant organisational restructure, Derwent London required several key appointments to strengthen its Property and Facilities Management function and appointed Maxwell Stephens exclusively to deliver the recruitment campaign.
The Challenge
The restructuring created an urgent requirement to recruit four specialist Facilities Management professionals across varying levels of seniority.
The appointments included:
- Head of Facilities Management
- Technical Services Manager
- Residential Facilities Manager
- Assistant Building Manager
Collectively, these individuals would play a critical role in supporting the management of Derwent London's prestigious central London property portfolio, ensuring exceptional operational performance, customer service and technical excellence across both commercial and residential assets.
The challenge was not simply finding technically capable professionals—it was identifying candidates who would thrive within Derwent London's collaborative culture and contribute to its reputation for delivering best-in-class property management.
Given the pace of the restructuring, speed was essential. The organisation needed experienced professionals in place quickly to maintain operational continuity without compromising on quality.
Our Approach
As specialist Facilities Management recruiters, Maxwell Stephens immediately mobilised a targeted executive search campaign supported by our extensive network of Facilities Management, Technical Services and Property professionals.
Rather than relying solely on advertising, we combined:
- Executive search and targeted headhunting.
- Access to our extensive specialist Facilities Management database.
- Market mapping across London's commercial property sector.
- Detailed competency-based candidate assessments.
- Comprehensive cultural fit evaluation.
- Rapid interview coordination and client communication.
Our long-standing presence within the Facilities Management recruitment market meant we already knew many of the strongest candidates personally, allowing us to move quickly while maintaining exceptionally high recruitment standards.
Each candidate was carefully assessed not only against the technical requirements of the individual roles but also for their leadership capability, customer focus, commercial awareness and alignment with Derwent London's values and working culture.
The Outcome
The recruitment campaign was completed exceptionally quickly, with all four positions successfully filled within just two weeks.
The successful appointments brought a wealth of experience across commercial property management, technical services, residential facilities management and operational leadership.
Each candidate integrated rapidly into the business, providing immediate support following the organisational restructure and helping ensure continuity across Derwent London's property management operations.
The successful recruitment campaign enabled Derwent London to:
- Strengthen its Facilities Management leadership team.
- Maintain operational stability during a period of organisational change.
- Enhance technical and operational expertise across the property portfolio.
- Minimise disruption following the restructure.
- Continue delivering the exceptionally high standards expected by tenants and stakeholders.
Specialist Recruitment at Speed
Recruiting multiple specialist Facilities Management professionals simultaneously requires detailed market knowledge, an established network and the ability to move quickly without compromising quality.
Through our specialist sector expertise, extensive candidate network and consultative recruitment approach, Maxwell Stephens successfully delivered four high-quality appointments within an exceptionally short timeframe, helping Derwent London continue managing one of London's most prestigious commercial property portfolios.
First Candidate Testimonial
"I contacted Maxwell Stephens after seeing a job they were advertising. Within a week I had been interviewed and offered the position. They kept me informed throughout the entire process and made everything straightforward from start to finish. I would definitely recommend Maxwell Stephens."
Second Candidate Testimonial
"If you are looking for a Recruitment Agency that offers a professional & supportive experience from initial contact through to finding a job position, then working with Peter and the Maxwell Stephen’s team will be the perfect fit for you. I was made to feel prepared and comfortable throughout the whole process of job hunting and was put forward for interviews with companies offering amazing opportunities. Thank you Peter & team for all your hard work and dedication to finding the right job for me. You really made me feel at ease and confident."