Ciaran Bird, who led CBRE’s UK & Ireland advisory business for over 12 years, has joined property technology firm LightWork AI as a strategic adviser, the company has announced.
Bird will work with the company’s founders on strategy development and building the leadership team. He spent 20 years at CBRE, where he oversaw a division employing approximately 4,000 people before stepping down from the role in 2025.
AI-powered customer service
LightWork AI, founded in 2024 by Leonard Charlton and Rameen Sorkhabi, has developed Felicity, an AI agent designed to handle incoming communications for residential sales and lettings agencies. The system responds to calls, emails, WhatsApp messages and property portal enquiries.
Bird said he evaluated multiple AI businesses in the property sector before committing to the role. “Agents win on judgement and service, and they cannot deliver on either if the phone is ringing out,” he stated.
The technology sector continues to attract property industry veterans seeking new opportunities as traditional agencies face operational challenges. The appointment comes as established agency networks navigate cost pressures and seek efficiency improvements.
Market expansion plans
Charlton said Bird’s experience would support the company’s expansion into institutional property sectors, including build-to-rent, student accommodation and affordable housing.
According to the company, Felicity can qualify leads, schedule property viewings and valuations, manage maintenance enquiries and integrate with existing agency management systems. The service is positioned to handle administrative tasks and out-of-hours enquiries, allowing agents to focus on client-facing activities.
The appointment signals growing interest from senior property professionals in the proptech sector, as AI applications in residential property management continue to develop. Bird’s move follows a pattern of consolidation and technological adoption across the lettings industry.
