Pioneer hires life sciences boss from JLL

Pioneer Group has strengthened its top team amid its expansion spree, hiring life sciences specialist Chris Walters from JLL. Walters spent over 14 years with the agency, most recently as head of life sciences for the UK, advising on development and investment opportunities. He has also worked closely with all aspects of the occupier business. Walters will focus on Pioneer’s £1.5bn life sciences portfolio which it aims to build out in partnership with the Crown Estate and Oxford Science Enterprises.  The trio is on a hunt for new sites, having bagged the former Debenhams department store in Oxford earlier this year. Perkins&Will is tasked with designing the scheme, with redevelopment proposals expected to be lodged with the local council imminently.  Earlier this year, the Crown took on the JLL property management teams acting on its London portfolio to create its own in-house property management arm. At the time, the Crown signalled that more JLL colleagues were expected to join the move. JLL has announced that Walters’ duties will be taken over by Chris Valentine, who it has appointed as head of strategic clients London and head of science and innovation agency. In this expanded role, Valentine will focus on delivering strategic leasing advice for life sciences clients and those with specialist technology needs. Valentine joined JLL in 2014 and has led the central London agency team since 2021. Image © JLL