Global commercial real estate advisor  Avison Young has announced the expansion of its team in Leeds with two senior appointments. Charlie Wood joins as an Associate in the Industrial and Logistics team and Jon Grafton joins as a Director in the Building and Project Consultancy team.

Arriving from Fisher German, where he headed up the Industrial and Logistics agency division in Yorkshire, Charlie brings over a decade of experience advising developers, landlords and occupiers across the Midlands and Northern regions. Prior to joining Fisher German, he spent five years in Sydney, working in consulting roles for Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Deloitte.

Jon joins the business from Gardiner & Theobald, bringing over 20 years’ experience leading the delivery of multi-million-pound infrastructure, industrial and mixed-use development programmes across the UK. Most recently, he has been driving a major mixed-use regeneration scheme at NOMA in Manchester, a landmark project set to deliver over 2.5 million sq ft of commercial, residential, retail and leisure space.

The first phase — the award-winning 4 Angel Square — has recently reached occupation and was subsequently acquired by the Bank of New York Mellon, marking a significant milestone in the regeneration of the estate. Jon’s track record combines strategic programme leadership with hands-on delivery expertise, consistently unlocking complex developments and creating long-term value for clients and stakeholders.

The two appointments reflect Avison Young’s continued investment in its growing regional footprint and operations in the North, strengthening the Leeds team, the depth of its market expertise, and the firm’s advisory offer to public and private sector clients.

Charlie and Jon’s arrival at Avison Young closely follows the appointment of Ellis Hearfield as a Director in the firm’s Place Living team, based in the Leeds office. Specialising in Build to Rent (BTR) and the Private Rented Sector (PRS), Ellis will support the development of the firm’s national transactional capability across the living sectors.

James Pitt, Managing Director, Leeds at Avison Young, said:
“Hot on the heels of Ellis’s appointment last month, we’re very pleased to welcome Charlie and Jon to the Leeds team. We have a real depth of experience within the team and bringing them on board will only enhance that offering and enable us to scale the support we provide to clients across the region.

“Charlie brings exceptional knowledge of the industrial and logistics market at a time when the sector continues to evolve rapidly, and Jon’s experience in delivering high value development programmes will be instrumental as we support clients tackling complex regeneration.

“As our regional footprint continues to expand, these appointments underline our commitment to investing in top-tier talent so that we can continue to deliver the insight, strategic advice and hands on support that our clients rely on.”

Jon Grafton, Director, Building and Project Consultancy at Avison Young, added:
“I’m excited to be joining Avison Young and contributing to the continued expansion of its consultancy capability in the region. The scale and ambition of development happening across the North presents huge opportunities but also requires the right technical expertise to ensure projects deliver meaningful and lasting outcomes.

“Having worked on major regeneration and infrastructure programmes, I’m looking forward to applying that experience to support our clients as they face complex delivery challenges. Avison Young has a clear vision for growth and impact, and I’m excited to help shape the next phase of that journey.”

Charlie Wood, Associate, Industrial and Logistics at Avison Young, added:
“The industrial and logistics market continues to evolve quickly, and clients are increasingly looking for advisors who can blend strategic insight with a strong understanding of occupier needs and development drivers.

“Having spent the past decade working across regional markets as well as internationally, I’m looking forward to bringing that experience to the team and supporting the growth of our offer across the Yorkshire region.”