KWB Director Mark Lenton calls time on 40-year career

KWB has announced that Director Mark Lenton will retire at the end of this year, bringing to a close almost 21 years with the Birmingham-based commercial property consultancy and a career spanning more than four decades in the city’s property sector.

After spending the first half of his career at Richard Ellis, Mark joined KWB in 2004 as a director tasked with establishing and growing the firm’s then-fledgling property management arm. Over the following two decades, he played a central role in transforming the service into a core part of the business, growing the property management offer by more than 600% to become KWB’s largest service line.

During Mark’s tenure, KWB also successfully expanded into residential property management, launching the service at the height of the global financial crisis in 2008. Today, residential management accounts for around a third of the firm’s property management business, with approximately 2,500 residential units under management alongside a substantial commercial portfolio.

Reflecting on his time at KWB, Mark said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my 20-plus years at KWB. When I joined, property management was a relatively small part of the business, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to help grow it into what it is today.

“I’ve spent my entire career working in Birmingham and the wider region, and I’ve been fortunate to work with some excellent colleagues and long-standing clients over the years. KWB has a strong culture and a clear focus on doing the right thing for its clients, which is something I’ve always valued.

“I’m confident the property management team is in very good hands and I’m looking forward to seeing the business continue to go from strength to strength.”

KWB Managing Director John Bryce paid tribute to Mark’s contribution to the business: “Mark has been an outstanding professional and a hugely influential figure at KWB for more than two decades. He has played a pivotal role in building both our property management offer and our wider reputation in the market.

“His leadership, integrity and commitment to client service have set the standard within the business, and the relationships he has built over many years speak volumes about the respect in which he is held. On behalf of everyone at KWB, I would like to thank Mark for his enormous contribution and wish him all the very best for the future.”

Mark has now handed over leadership of the property management team to Sam Lawrence, who recently joined KWB as Head of Property Management as part of the RICS-accredited firm’s ongoing investment in the service and its future growth.

Mark has no plans to slow down immediately in retirement, with a trip to Australia planned early next year to watch the final Ashes Test before heading to Melbourne for the Australian Open tennis.

For more details on KWB’s property and asset management services, please contact:

Sam Lawrence

Phone

Email slawrence@kwboffice.com

LinkedIn