JLL chairman Chris Ireland is to retire at the end of next month after 40 years with the business.
Ireland joined King Sturge in 1979 as a graduate and spent his whole career across the UK investment property market. He ran the investment teams at King Sturge and was at the forefront of growing the investment business and developing alternative investment areas in student housing, healthcare and senior living.
He became joint managing partner at King Sturge and subsequently joint senior partner prior to the merger with JLL in 2011. He was appointed JLL UK chief executive in 2016 and during his tenure JLL grew in both transactional markets and new areas of expertise including sustainability services, ESG, debt advisory and life sciences. In 2021, Ireland took on the role of chairman at JLL following the appointment of Stephanie Hyde as UK chief executive.
Hyde said: “We have so much to thank Chris for during what has been an illustrious career and he will be very much missed. He is a man of huge integrity and cares deeply about everyone and everything around him. I have benefited hugely in the past two years from his immense knowledge and experience, and I know that many others have enjoyed his words of wisdom over the decades too.
“He has always advocated for emerging talent and inclusive collaborative teams have been important to him throughout his career and evident in the legacy he leaves. After such a long time dedicated to this business, we hope Chris takes the chance to unwind and enjoy a long and happy retirement with family and friends.”
Ireland was also responsible for JLL’s four-year charity partnership with Crisis, during which time £1.28m was raised for the homeless charity. His own contribution involved a trio of triathlons over consecutive months, including the JLL Property Triathlon at Dorney Lake.
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