JLL looks to new EMEA chief Poppink for a slam dunk

Guy Grainger’s impending departure as JLL’s EMEA chief executive to take on a new ESG-focused role gave the agency big shoes to fill. Fortunately, they had a former professional basketball player ready to lace up and get on the court. This week, JLL announced that Andy Poppink, its California-based president of the US West region, will move to Europe to become EMEA markets chief executive, as Grainger takes on a new role as global head of sustainability services and ESG. A new head for EMEA is one of several changes that group chief executive Christian Ulbrich said wrap up a two-year “transformation programme” to align various businesses. Poppink and other regional markets heads will report to Greg O’Brien, newly installed global chief executive for markets. The EMEA business, like the agency’s other regional divisions, must now be led through the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. Nine-month EMEA revenue of $2.1bn (£1.5bn) was down by 12% year-on-year, driven by falls of between a fifth and a quarter in leasing, capital markets and property management fees. Despite signs of economic improvement globally, Ulbrich has said forecasts for market activity remain uncertain. There is much for Poppink to play for. He has worked at JLL for two decades, leading 20 corporate offices in his most recent role, which he took in 2018. Much of his work has been tech-focused in and around Silicon Valley, for which he ran JLL’s team earlier in his career. He plans to move to Switzerland with his wife, son and daughter when he begins the new role at the start of next year. They’ll live in Zurich for six months but then expect to move to London. EMEA staff are now waiting to learn more about their new chief – the UK workforce was somewhat “spoiled” by having Grainger move from UK chief executive to a regional post, some say, and the arrival of an outsider was always likely to be welcomed warily. In an early message to the teams, Poppink spoke of forging better connections between geographies and business lines. He is “solid, well regarded and personable”, says a London-based agency executive who worked with him during a stint in California. A new colleague says he has a “strong reputation internally”, albeit one that might not be well known internationally. In a video recorded by colleagues to mark his winning of one of JLL’s “Champions of Excellence” awards back in 2012, Poppink is described variously as “loved by his team”, an “all-American guy” and “very intense” as a leader. “Clients love him,” said Craig Kammerer, managing director in Palo Alto. “They know he has their back. They know he’s thinking creatively for them.” Colleagues also know his athleticism well – he captained the Stanford University basketball team, and his basketball career took him to Turkey, Japan and Spain. Some have grown to know it better than others – an early riser, Poppink used to run fitness boot camps for his Silicon Valley team. EMEA staff may want to start limbering up now. To send feedback, e-mail tim.burke@egi.co.uk or tweet @_tim_burke or @estatesgazette Picture © Stanford Men’s Basketball