Experienced executive Mark Williams has joined Colliers as the organisation’s Commercial Director.
This is a strategic appointment and Williams will have responsibility for the finance function, acquisitions, growth initiatives, business productivity, and enablement across Colliers.
Williams’ arrival follows the retirement of long-time Chief Financial Officer Peter Herbert who left Colliers in April after more than 30 years of service.
Williams holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting from the University of Auckland, as well as a Diploma in International Business. He also qualified as a Chartered Global Management Accountant whilst living in London.
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He has extensive experience in the beverage sector, working in New Zealand and the UK, before he moved into the hospitality industry in 2014.
An eight-year stint at the Nourish Group included four years as CEO before he worked as a consultant prior to joining Colliers.
Williams says his first impressions of Colliers met what people had told him before he joined the organisation.
“It’s a highly collaborative workplace with an excellent structure and a hugely talented team of people within the business,” Williams says.
He says there are many transferable aspects from working in the hospitality sector that apply to the property industry.
“Dealing with varying aspects of property specifically, and exposure to mergers and acquisitions.”
Outside of work, Williams lives with his wife and three children in Glendowie and tries to dabble in fishing and golf when time allows.
Gareth Fraser, CEO of Colliers New Zealand, says Williams’ extensive commercial experience makes him an ideal fit for the team.
“This is a senior role in the business and includes ultimate responsibility for the finance function,” Fraser says.
“Mark has worked in a range of complementary roles, including Commercial Director, CFO, and CEO of various businesses and he will work closely with our APAC colleagues to drive strategic initiatives.
“We welcome him to the Colliers team and are really excited about what he will deliver to help accelerate the success of the business and our clients.”
Colliers is highly active locally and globally in the acquisitions area, having recently announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Englobe Corporation, a leading Canadian multi-discipline engineering, environmental, and inspection services firm.
Headquartered in Laval, Québec, Englobe’s 2,800 professionals provide civil, buildings, geotechnical, and environmental engineering, material testing, and related consulting services to public and private sector clients primarily in the transportation, water, buildings, and power end markets.
In 2023, the business generated US$340 million of revenues. The business will be rebranded as Colliers in 2025.
Last year, Colliers New Zealand acquired a controlling interest in leading New Zealand project management firm Greenstone Group, now rebranded as Colliers Project Leaders.
- Supplied by Colliers
