Rapleys brings in new Associate Partner in Automotive & Roadside from Listers Group as it grows further in line with strategy

Published by CoStar (21.08.23), Midlands Business Insider (23.08.23), Forecourt Trade (23.08.23), Motor Trader (24.08.23)

BIRMINGHAM AUGUST 2023 – Strategic property consultancy Rapleys has grown its Automotive & Roadside team by bringing in a senior industry specialist through its recruitment of David Johnson, formerly Property Director at Listers Group, the 12^th largest Automotive group in the UK.

Johnson’s 18 years in his role at Listers will bring with him unique client-side experience, adding huge value to Rapleys’ market-leading A&R team. Johnson will be based in Rapleys’ new Birmingham office – the business’s national hub. His new role will include growing the team’s presence in the West Midlands while supporting the existing client base, working under Head of Automotive & Roadside Daniel Cook, based in Cambridge.

Cook says: “We are thrilled to bring in someone of David’s calibre, further strengthening our industry leading Automotive & Roadside team further which is a core part of our strategic growth plan. David has dealt with many dealer groups, manufacturers, investors and developers in his career and will be a huge asset as we seek to take further market share across our two pivotal areas of Car Dealerships and Petrol Stations. Furthermore, his unique client-side knowledge will add real insight of strategic and operational challenges which our teams based across the UK will be able to understand more implicitly and offer even better innovative solutions and opportunities as a result.”

David Johnson said: “Rapleys is a true property leader in this industry – known for its multi-disciplinary and full-service approach to all things automotive and especially both petrol stations and car dealerships where they work with a large proportion of the top brands in the UK. Having worked for decades on the client -side, it’s time for a new challenge: one where I can bring a different perspective and use it to add value and growth in terms of market share, client activity and reach. I cannot wait to get stuck in and work with Daniel and the team to help steer yet more success.”

The Automotive & Roadside team at Rapleys has seen huge success in the last year, advising 8 out of the top 10 car dealer groups in the UK, transacting 1m sq ft of space, and increasing instructions from 282 to 436 while also increasing turnover and being the market leader in business rates for automotive clients.

Rapleys has had a huge growth drive over the last 12 months across all regions and disciplines. This is the second client-side recent high profile and senior hire in a specific industry which all services serve with William Gittus hired to spearhead the sport & leisure industry team from The Jockey Club – which Rapleys continues to advise on a number of major confidential projects.