Wednesday April 27 2011
VPS, the Vacant Property Specialists restructure and rebrand reinforces international growth strategy
New team and unified brand drives customer focus as two thirds of property managers and owners affected by vacant property
VPS, the world’s leading provider of vacant property services and security, has announced key changes to the company’s senior management team and its intention to rebrand as VPS, The Vacant Property Specialists. This major initiative underlines the company’s new direction and ambitious international growth plans that will deliver even greater customer focus.
The announcement comes at a time when vacant property is affecting nearly two thirds (60%) of property owners and managers in the UK, France and USA*.
The restructure brings VPS operations in the UK, US and Europe under one ‘umbrella brand’ to drive greater strategic focus and to help customers care for their vacant property using a strong combination of local knowledge and expertise, through a recognised global brand.
VPS has assembled an experienced senior team to lead the company into a new and exciting era. The appointments mark significant development in the growth of VPS’s global operations and has been structured to ensure the VPS Group continues to provide clients with an integrated and innovative service across international boundaries.
Mark Silver has been appointed VPS Group CEO and will assume overall leadership responsibility for the development and growth for VPS’s various businesses around the world. Chris Bates has been appointed as VPS Group CFO. Peter Glanville has been appointed as Group Supply Chain Manager VPS Group, responsible for leading the fleet and purchasing departments and international depot network. Joanne Bacon is appointed as VPS Group Human Resources Director.
Three divisional Managing Directors have been appointed to deliver service and maximise opportunities in their respected territories: Nick Tubbs, Managing Director, VPS UK, Olivier Testaert, Managing Director, VPS France, and John O’Leary, CEO, VPS Inc, USA.
In addition there have been new appointments at a functional level with Olivier Ansiaux, appointed as European Marketing Director, based in France, John Wright, National Accounts Director, and Nick Haycock, Sales and Marketing Director.
In the UK, Safe Estates will migrate to VPS and in France, Sud-Est Plaitre, Innovatec and VPS France will integrate to become VPS France. This is expected to be completed by 31st March 2011.
The new name, identity and structure, puts VPS in a stronger position for continued success after more than a decade of providing integrated solutions that have helped customers to care for and mitigate risks associated with over 60,000 vacant properties worldwide.
Commenting on the changes VPS Group CEO, Mark Silver, said: “We’re at a critical time in a market where weak occupier demand means an average of 84% of property managers are expecting vacant property to increase or remain at current levels during 2011. This leaves them not only facing significant risks and costs associated with all types of vacant property, but buildings that can negatively impact on local communities. Our new direction will enable us to operate VPS more effectively as a Group under one recognisable brand and build an even stronger customer offering to help customers control the cost of vacancy and mitigate the associated risks.
“We have ambitious development plans and I’m delighted to have such a strong team in place to continue to unite and grow our business on a global scale. This holistic approach will redefine how we interact with our customers and our position as market leader. By leveraging greater value from the scale of VPS across our geographical locations we will be recognised globally, whilst delivering our services locally”, adds Silver.
The new identity has been unveiled this week at MIPIM 2011 in Cannes (8th – 11th March) where VPS UK and VPS France are exhibiting (Stand 12.10, Level 1 Festival de Palais). MIPIM is the ‘must attend’ event for international property professionals bringing together more than 17,000 delegates from all over the world for four days of seminars, networking and business development. VPS will be introducing the new brand to customers and hosting a number of events throughout the week.
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* Independent research commissioned by VPS, which surveyed 770 property owners and managers in France, USA and UK in January 2011.
