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Background & Client Overview
McCann London, a leading advertising agency known for its creativity and innovation, appointed Maxwell Stephens to recruit an experienced Head of Facilities for its Herbrand Street office.
The role carried responsibility for the day-to-day performance of a 62,500 sq ft workplace, covering mechanical and electrical systems, hard and soft FM services, health and safety, business continuity, security and risk management.
Operating within a fast-paced creative environment, McCann required a senior Facilities Management professional who could combine strong technical knowledge with commercial awareness, leadership and the ability to maintain consistently high standards across the building.
The Challenge
McCann London needed a Head of Facilities capable of taking full ownership of a complex corporate workplace while supporting the operational demands of a dynamic agency environment.
The successful candidate needed to demonstrate extensive experience across both technical and workplace services, together with the confidence to manage significant budgets, lead a Facilities team and respond effectively to incidents or disruption.
Key requirements included:
Operational Facilities Leadership
Overseeing the day-to-day operation of the Herbrand Street office and ensuring Facilities services supported the needs of employees, clients and visitors.
Hard & Soft FM Management
Managing the full range of building services, including mechanical and electrical systems alongside soft Facilities services.
Budget & Commercial Management
Taking responsibility for Facilities budgets of up to £5 million, maintaining strong financial control while ensuring service quality and value for money.
Health & Safety Management
Maintaining robust health and safety standards and ensuring appropriate procedures, controls and risk-management measures remained in place.
Business Continuity & Incident Response
Developing and maintaining effective business continuity arrangements and ensuring the organisation was prepared to respond to operational incidents.
Environmental Management
Supporting environmental-management requirements, including activity aligned with ISO 14001 standards.
Team Leadership
Leading and developing a Facilities team of more than five professionals, maintaining clear accountability and a strong service culture.
Security & Risk Management
Overseeing building security and implementing appropriate measures to protect employees, visitors, property and business assets.
Our Recruitment Approach
Maxwell Stephens conducted a targeted search for senior Facilities Management professionals with experience managing large corporate workplaces and complex hard and soft FM operations.
Given the breadth and seniority of the role, our assessment focused on candidates with a strong combination of technical expertise, commercial judgement and leadership capability.
Particular emphasis was placed on professionals with experience in:
- managing large and complex office environments
- mechanical and electrical building services
- hard and soft FM delivery
- health and safety and risk management
- business continuity and incident response
- significant budget responsibility
- environmental management and ISO 14001
- building security
- team leadership and development
Cultural fit was also critical. McCann needed someone capable of introducing structure and operational discipline without losing sight of the fast-moving, collaborative nature of a creative business.
Following a rigorous search and assessment process, Maxwell Stephens successfully placed an experienced Head of Facilities with McCann London.
Outcome & Impact
The successful appointment strengthened the management of McCann London’s Herbrand Street office across several important operational areas.
Stronger Operational Oversight
The Head of Facilities took responsibility for the daily operation of the 62,500 sq ft workplace, ensuring mechanical and electrical systems and wider Facilities services were effectively managed.
This helped maintain a reliable and professional working environment for the business.
Improved Hard & Soft FM Delivery
Greater oversight of both technical and workplace services supported more consistent service standards and improved coordination across the Facilities function.
Stronger Budget Management
The successful candidate effectively managed Facilities budgets of up to £5 million, maintaining close control of expenditure while balancing cost efficiency with service requirements.
Enhanced Health & Safety
Robust health and safety processes and risk-management measures helped strengthen the organisation’s approach to workplace safety and operational compliance.
Greater Business Resilience
The candidate’s experience in business continuity and incident response supported stronger preparation for potential disruption and helped protect operational continuity.
Stronger Environmental Management
The Head of Facilities supported environmental-management requirements aligned with ISO 14001, helping maintain a more structured approach to environmental performance.
Effective Team Leadership
Leadership of the Facilities team strengthened accountability, collaboration and service delivery across the department.
Improved Building Security
The candidate enhanced oversight of security arrangements, supporting the protection of McCann London’s people, premises and assets.
Outcome
The successful placement provided McCann London with a senior Facilities leader capable of balancing technical operations, workplace services, financial management, safety, security and business continuity within a demanding corporate environment.
The assignment demonstrates Maxwell Stephens’ ability to recruit senior FM professionals who can manage complex workplaces while contributing to wider operational resilience, commercial performance and employee experience.
Looking for an experienced Head of Facilities to lead a complex corporate workplace? Contact Maxwell Stephens to discuss your recruitment requirements.