Cast Consultancy co-founder Mark Farmer’s planned exit leads BE News’s pick of the week’s people stories. The week also brought a new government chief construction and scientific adviser and senior hires across housing, real estate finance, capital markets, valuations and building surveying.
Mark Farmer to leave Cast Consultancy in 2027
Mark Farmer will leave Cast Consultancy by the end of 2027, completing his planned exit from executive responsibilities and ownership of the business he co-founded. The Modernise or Die author stepped down as CEO in 2025. He plans to pursue advisory and non-executive roles while continuing his industry leadership work.
Sergio Cavalaro appointed government chief construction and scientific adviser
Loughborough University professor Sergio Cavalaro has been appointed government chief construction and scientific adviser for a three-year term. He will provide independent advice on building safety, quality, resilience and productivity. He will work in the role full-time following a handover with interim chief construction adviser Thouria Istephan.
Vistry appoints Catherine Raynsford as group partnerships director
Vistry has appointed Catherine Raynsford as group partnerships director from 1 January 2027. She succeeds Stephen Teagle, who retires at the end of March, and will lead Vistry’s partnerships and regeneration team. Raynsford is currently managing director, stock acquisitions at L&G Affordable Homes and has more than 20 years’ experience in affordable housing.
M&G names Duncan Batty head of real estate finance
Duncan Batty (pictured above) returns to M&G as head of real estate finance on 2 November, moving from Revolut, where he led commercial real estate lending. He previously spent 12 years at M&G, latterly as co-head of real estate finance. He has more than two decades’ experience in European property finance.
Cushman & Wakefield hires Charlie How as UK capital markets partner
Cushman & Wakefield has hired Charlie How as a UK capital markets partner. How joins after 14 years at Lambert Smith Hampton, most recently as a senior director in industrial and logistics capital markets. Based in London, he will provide strategic investment advice to investors, developers and occupiers.
Colliers hires Prina Shah as Central London valuations director
Prina Shah (pictured above) has joined Colliers as a director in its Central London valuations team. She moves from Cushman & Wakefield, where she spent 14 years and was a partner, and previously worked at CBRE. She brings commercial valuation, asset management and advisory experience across London and the wider UK, including healthcare expertise.
Bidwells appoints Puneet Vedhera to lead London building surveying
Bidwells has launched a dedicated London building surveying service and appointed Puneet Vedhera as partner and head of building surveying in the capital. Vedhera joins from RLB and previously spent almost a decade as a partner at Knight Frank. He plans to expand the London team.
