The real estate group’s head of capital markets and managing director of the company for a decade is moving on after 27 years on the job.
JLL head of capital markets John Williams has quit the firm to start his own consultancy later this year, after close to three decades at the company.
Mr Williams stepped into the capital markets role at the start of 2022, after a 10-year stint as JLL’s managing director in Western Australia.
During his 27 years at JLL, he brokered $2.5 billion sales across 34 Perth office buildings, including the $458 million sale of Raine Square to Charter Hall, PSP Investments and Telstra Super in 2013, which remains the city’s largest single transaction.
Most recently, Mr Williams helped sell the former Bond tower at 108 St Georges Terrace to Lendlease and Realside for $340 million.
He also brokered the sale of Perth’s Exchange Tower twice, first a 50 per cent stake in 2012 for $157.7 million to AMP, with the other stake obtained by Primewest, and again in 2017 for a 100 per cent stake of $326 million to GIC.
Last year, he was the agent on Hawaiian’s sale of London House at 216 St Georges Terrace to Leonie Baldock for $102 million.
Mr Williams, who handed the reins as managing director to Angelo Amara at the start of 2022, has experienced several highs and lows of the commercial property market during his tenure.
He said the current environment, where no significant transactions had occurred since late last year, resembled the 1990s and 2009, that is, the recession Australia had to have, and the GFC.
“[During those times] there was a hiatus of deals, because capital was a little nervous, but it bounces back,” Mr Williams told Business News.
“I think 2024 and 2025 will be active periods.”
Mr Williams joined JLL in 1995, after working for seven years in London for real estate consultancy Richard Main & Co.
Coincidentally, the London firm was taken over by JLL years after Mr Williams departed.
His new firm, where he will be a solo practitioner, will be called Williams Property Advisory.
He plans to act as a consultant to buyers and sellers, helping with he disposal of assets, advising on acquisitions, as well as portfolio management and general advice.
