Colin Sinclair's decision to quit as chief executive of Greater Manchester's inward investment agency, MIDAS, to join Bruntwood has been greeted with surprise and curiosity in Manchester.
"Colin has done a fantastic job in flying the flag for Manchester and he will be a very hard act to follow," says Ken Bishop, head of DTZ's Manchester office.
Echoing other views in the city, Bishop added that he will be "intrigued" to see what exactly Sinclair's role with Bruntwood will be.
Peter Gallagher of agency P3 was similarly full of praise for Sinclair earlier today: "He leaves a huge legacy and his achievements at MIDAS are immeasureable.
He added that any new job for Sinclair would have to be a "big role" and that it "clearly signals a change in Bruntwood's operation; he goes there with a big brief."
According to today's press release from Bruntwood, Sinclair will be the firm's special projects director, with the redevelopment of the Manchester Business School his first task.
Bruntwood has typically been known for creating high quality refurbished offices, predominantly in Manchester and Liverpool, but recently developed its first city-centre new build; 1 New York Street in Manchester. Agents suggest that Sinclair's appointment signals that the firm plans more major new build schemes in the recovery.
The move will also be a change for Sinclair, whose background prior to his role leading MIDAS was in marketing and Manchester's music and events scene.
There are even those who suggest that Sinclair could one day take the helm at Bruntwood, although there is no suggestion that current chief executive Chris Oglesby has any intention of stepping down any time soon.
As for Sinclair's possible replacement at MIDAS, agents say there is no obvious candidate, but that considering Sinclair's background prior to MIDAS, don't necessarily bet on a public sector figure taking over.
EG's Midlands editor Lisa Pilkington was at Bruntwood's first business breakfast in Birmingham this morning where she caught up with Chris Oglesby. Click here to read what he had to say about the company's plans in the city.
Leave a comment
What a user pic? Get a Gravatar!