Global commercial real estate advisor Avison Young has appointed Michael Kershaw as a Director in its National Capital Markets team, as an industrial and logistics specialist.

Michael joins the firm from Colliers, where he was head of Industrial and Logistics Capital Markets. He was at Colliers for 16 years, overseeing a high-profile client portfolio and hundreds of transactions. Prior to his tenure at the company, Michael held a director position at JLL for eight years.

In his new role at Avison Young, Michael will be based in the firm’s London office. He will focus on the full industrial and logistics asset class, across big box, mid-box, portfolios, estates and last mile.

Michael’s appointment comes as the industrial and logistics market continues to grow from strength to strength, with take up of UK Grade A big box space rising 37% year on year in Q1 2026 to 6.9m sq ft – almost three times higher than the previous quarter, according to Avison Young data.

He joins a growing Capital Markets team, following the recent hire of Richard Day as Head of Debt Advisory, Graham Barnes as Head of Corporate Finance and Guy Spencer’s promotion to Head of National Capital Markets.

Chris Pilgrim, Principal and Managing Director, Capital Markets at Avison Young said:
“The fast-paced industrial and logistics sector is a growing Capital Markets asset class for Avison Young, as we continue to see demand rise from our clients.

Michael’s appointment represents an initial foundation, as we grow the specialism out, strengthening our offering and expertise in this area. We’re continuously adding new acumen, knowledge and skills to our Capital Markets business group, and it’s one of the most exciting areas across the firm. I’m looking forward to working closely with Michael.”

Michael Kershaw, Director, Capital Markets at Avison Young said:
“I’m excited to join Avison Young at such a pivotal time for the Capital Markets team, adding to the growing roster of specialists and experts. Industrial and logistics is one of the fastest maturing asset classes in the UK investor appetite and rising occupier demand. I’m looking forward to bringing my knowledge and experience to Avison Young and working with the team to provide a best-in-class service for clients.”

For more about Avison Young’s capital markets team, click here