Background
Zenith is a leading vehicle leasing and fleet management company, known for innovative solutions and a strong record of customer service. The company embarked on a significant project to relocate its global headquarters to a new, modern facility at Kirkstall Forge, Leeds. The move was intended to improve operational efficiency, support business growth and create a more collaborative working environment for its people.
To lead the relocation, Zenith asked Maxwell Stephens to recruit a Facilities Management Consultant.
The Challenge
A headquarters relocation is one of the more demanding assignments in facilities management. It is a one-off project with a fixed end point, but it touches every part of the business: the building itself, the services within it, the way teams work and how people experience the move. Zenith needed someone who could hold all of that together.
The brief called for an experienced professional combining:
- Facilities management depth. Understanding how the new building would need to operate from day one, and what had to be in place before people arrived.
- Project management discipline. Planning, sequencing and controlling the many moving parts of the relocation so that it ran to plan.
- Corporate relocation experience. A track record of moving organisations, not just a knowledge of buildings.
The consultant would be responsible for delivering a smooth transition to the new headquarters, keeping disruption to operations to a minimum and ensuring the new facilities aligned with Zenith's business objectives and cultural ethos. That last point matters: a relocation that delivers the building but not the culture is only half done.
The Market for This Role
Relocation projects are often resourced with an interim or consultant rather than a permanent hire, because the work has a fixed end point. The Institute of Interim Management's 2026 survey puts the average UK interim day rate at £907 and the average assignment at 10 months.
The value of a specialist lies in having moved organisations before: knowing what has to be in place before the first person arrives, and what usually goes wrong in the final weeks.
The Outcome
Maxwell Stephens recruited a Facilities Management Consultant for Zenith with a wealth of experience and a proven track record in managing complex relocations. The search focused on that specific track record, because general facilities experience alone does not prepare someone for a move of this kind.
The consultant's brief covered the move of Zenith's global headquarters to its new building at Kirkstall Forge in Leeds.
Why This Placement Worked
Relocation roles are often filled by whoever is available rather than by someone who has done it before. The difference shows in the detail: whether services are live on the first morning, whether people know where to go and whether the new space works the way the business intended. Zenith's brief was specific about needing relocation experience alongside facilities and project management skills, and the search was run against that brief.
If you are planning an office move or headquarters relocation and need someone to lead it, Maxwell Stephens can help you find a facilities professional with the right project experience. Get in touch with our team.
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