Headhunting firm poaches Battersea office space at Ballymore block

Boardroom headhunting specialist Perrett Laver is to relocate its UK recruitment team to a new office in Battersea, at Ballymore’s One Embassy Gardens building, SW8. The executive search firm will take 5,800 sq ft at the block, which sits next to the new US Embassy, occupying half of the ninth floor on a 10-year lease. The company is moving from its existing space on Whitehall to join tenants Penguin Random House and DK Publishing, which occupy about 80% of the building. That will leave around 22,000 sq ft of grade A office space remaining, including the 12,750 sq ft tenth floor with a 2,000 sq ft roof terrace. Perrett Laver specialises in finding top-level executives for companies which aim to serve a social or environmental purpose such as higher education, non-profits and healthcare firms. It has 15 offices around the globe and employs nearly 150 people. Ballymore decided against selling the office block at One Embassy Gardens in 2019, after having initially put it on the block for £160m. John Mulryan, group managing director at Ballymore, said: “Our aim at Embassy Gardens was to create a vibrant new neighbourhood combining homes, offices, retail and leisure space and new public areas. “With growing numbers of residents, exciting retail, leisure and hospitality concepts opening up, and Perrett Laver now joining Penguin Random House as office occupiers, it’s exciting to see our vision taking shape.” To send feedback, e-mail alex.daniel@eg.co.uk or tweet @alexmdaniel or @EGPropertyNews