Former CBRE Midlands valuation head joins Avison Young

Global commercial real estate advisor, Avison Young has appointed Mike Stephens as a Director in its Birmingham valuation team to help grow its loan security business.

With nearly 40 years of experience in the Midlands commercial property market, Mike joins from CBRE, where he led the firm’s valuation team for over 20 years. His extensive career in the industry has seen Mike providing valuation and consultancy advice to some of the biggest lenders, investors, developers and occupiers in the region.

His breadth of expertise includes working with all the clearing banks, including Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC, Santander and Handelsbanken, as well as an increasing number of debt funds, including Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Intermediate Capital Group.

Mike has worked across a number of complex development schemes in the Midlands, encompassing trophy office assets, Big Box industrial, and large mixed portfolios, and has built a strong reputation as one of the region’s most experienced and trusted valuation specialists.

His arrival at Avison Young significantly strengthens the Midlands valuation team, as it seeks to expand its existing offer to clients and develop the skills of the next generation coming through the business.

Mike Stephens, Director, Valuations at Avison Young, said:
“Avison Young has a fantastic reputation in the Midlands market and a truly cross-disciplinary team ethic, which is what attracted me to the role. Like many regions across the UK, there are some structural economic challenges facing the Midlands right now, but the commercial and living property markets here remain very resilient.

“Occupier demand is robust in most markets and this, coupled with limited new development, means that rental growth remains an important dynamic for property investors, developers and owners. I am really excited to work with the established expert team here in Birmingham and the wider AY network”.

Helen Collins, Principal and Managing Director, Midlands at Avison Young, added:
“Mike is highly respected in the Midlands market, and he knows the commercial property landscape in the region inside and out. With his extensive contacts and expertise, we are confident that he will make a big impact in the team, from client advisory to supporting colleague development, and we are very happy to be welcoming him on board.”