THE head of Cushman & Wakefield’s Glasgow business space agency has left the company to launch a new Glasgow-based commercial property agency called Adapt Commercial Property.
After nine years with the real estate services firm, Fergus Maclennan revealed he is determined to provide ‘dynamic and strategic advice’ to landlords, investors and occupier clients with a focus on ‘innovation, quality and most importantly the end user’.
Fergus, who is also a director at Partick Thistle Football Club, has transacted on some of Glasgow’s largest office deals, recently acting on behalf of Aecom, Morgan Stanley, Virgin Money, GAP Group, Experian, BDO and Interpath Advisory. Headline deals in the industrial market have included HQ acquisitions on behalf of Scania, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Douglas Laing.
With over 20 years’ corporate experience across all aspects of the commercial property market, including five years in Sydney, Australia, Fergus said he is looking forward to the next chapter as the pace of change accelerates for occupiers ‘like never before’.
He explained, “It’s been all change over the last three years with the global pandemic resetting the way we live, work and do business. This has left landlords, investors and occupiers in a state of flux in a commercial property market that must also now adapt.
“Globally, we have all come through the most challenging period of our working lives under lockdown conditions. The Scottish Government only sanctioned the return to workplaces on 18th April 2022 with Glasgow still experiencing the lowest return-to-office rates in the UK.
“Adapt Commercial Property has been set up to assist businesses through these daunting workplace decisions, to support clients to find the right solution. At its core, Adapt Commercial Property understands commercial property, with progressive thinking and an attention to detail for our clients requirements. Buildings should be designed creatively with flexible spaces to make the workplace compelling and where people want to be.
“After nine years at Cushman & Wakefield, I have gained a deep occupier insight to the challenges which businesses are experiencing. I pride myself in knowing what a workplace requires to attract and retain the best talent in a collaborative environment.
“I am excited to launch Adapt Commercial Property to offer specialist advice to clients in Glasgow on how they can transform buildings to connect with people. McLellan Works has been a great example of this, a transformational office development on Sauchiehall Street on behalf of clients Bywater Properties which, despite completion during the pandemic, leased up quicker than any other property in the city. Adapt Commercial Property will showcase the best quality space for landlord clients and represent a wide range of occupier clients, realigning their occupational strategies.”
Charles Dady, international partner and head of national office leasing at Cushman & Wakefield, added, “We wish Fergus every success in his new venture and look forward to working with him on projects in the future. It has been a pleasure to have worked with Fergus over the last nine years and he leaves the firm with our very best wishes. Cushman & Wakefield will continue to provide our office agency clients across Scotland with leading advice and insight, led by regional managing partner Murray Strang and head of office agency, James Thomson.”
