Background
Man Group is one of the world's largest publicly listed active investment management firms, managing more than US$100 billion in assets on behalf of institutional and private investors worldwide. Headquartered in London, the firm operates from 15 international offices across Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East.
Following several unsuccessful recruitment campaigns with other agencies, Man Group sought a specialist recruitment partner capable of identifying a senior facilities management leader with the technical expertise, leadership capability and commercial acumen required for one of its most important operational appointments.
Maxwell Stephens was invited to undertake the search alongside a small number of specialist recruitment firms. Through a targeted executive search process, we secured the appointment.
The Challenge
The Head of Building Management was responsible for the operational leadership of Riverbank House, Man Group's London headquarters overlooking the River Thames. This multi-tenanted building required an experienced facilities management professional capable of delivering high workplace standards while managing a complex corporate environment.
Reporting into senior leadership, the successful candidate assumed responsibility for:
- Leading all building management operations at Riverbank House.
- Managing both hard and soft facilities management services.
- Overseeing significant service charge budgets and financial performance.
- Managing relationships with landlords, occupiers and tenants.
- Ensuring statutory compliance across all building operations.
- Leading engineering, security, cleaning and workplace service providers.
- Delivering procurement exercises and contract tenders.
- Driving operational efficiency and continuous improvement.
- Supporting Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery planning.
- Providing strategic oversight across Man Group's wider property portfolio.
In addition to leading the London headquarters, the successful candidate also assumed the role of Global Head of Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS), providing strategic leadership for health, safety and environmental compliance across the organisation's international operations.
That combination of operational leadership, technical expertise and global governance made the role one of the most senior facilities management appointments within the business. It also explains why earlier campaigns had struggled: a building-focused search finds strong building managers, but the EHS remit and portfolio oversight demanded a candidate pool that most generalist agencies do not reach.
Our Approach
Recognising the complexity of the assignment, Maxwell Stephens undertook a targeted executive search focused on senior corporate facilities management professionals with experience managing flagship commercial buildings and international property portfolios.
Our search concentrated on candidates who could demonstrate expertise across:
- Corporate building management.
- Multi-site facilities management.
- Environmental, Health & Safety leadership.
- Engineering and technical building services.
- Service charge management.
- Landlord and tenant liaison.
- Contractor and supplier management.
- Business continuity and operational resilience.
- Procurement and commercial contract management.
Alongside technical capability, we sought individuals with executive presence, commercial awareness and the ability to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across an international financial services business. Every shortlisted candidate underwent detailed assessment covering leadership style, operational expertise, regulatory knowledge and cultural fit.
The Outcome
Following an extensive executive search, Maxwell Stephens introduced the candidate ultimately appointed as Head of Building Management. The successful individual brought extensive experience managing corporate headquarters together with significant expertise in engineering, health & safety, workplace operations and commercial property management.
Since joining Man Group, they have:
- Led the operational management of Riverbank House.
- Managed all hard and soft facilities management services.
- Strengthened contractor performance and supplier governance.
- Overseen service charge budgets and financial controls.
- Enhanced health, safety and environmental compliance globally.
- Supported Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery planning.
- Delivered operational improvements across the wider property portfolio.
- Maintained high workplace standards within one of London's leading corporate headquarters.
Their strategic leadership and technical expertise have helped ensure Man Group's workplaces continue to operate efficiently, safely and to the standards the firm expects.
Recruiting Facilities Leaders for Global Financial Institutions
Senior appointments within global investment firms require far more than technical knowledge. They demand commercially aware leaders capable of balancing operational excellence, regulatory compliance, stakeholder management and strategic business support. Where a role also carries a global governance remit, as this one did with EHS, the search has to be scoped for that from the outset rather than treated as a building appointment with extras.
If you are recruiting a senior facilities or building management leader for a headquarters building, a multi-tenanted estate or an international portfolio, Maxwell Stephens can help you define the brief and reach candidates at the right level. Get in touch with our team.