John Gray - speaker at The Shopping Centre Conference 2011
John Gray - speaker at The Shopping Centre Conference 2011
Published: 11 January, 2011
John Gray , Managing Director, John Gray Service Charges Ltd
Fifteen years in international banking with Standard Chartered Bank prior to falling into working for Colliers Erdman Lewis in management accounts looking after service charges and recoverable expenses for Great Universal Stores and the Leeds office generally for 6 years. I moved to British Land with the portfolio when joint venture, BL Universal, was set up, and continued the administration of Service Charges from the Landlord’s side for a further 3 years.
Eight years with NEXT as in house Service Charge Manager looking after 400+ stores and chairing the Shopping Centre Management Committee and sitting on various industry body working parties such as the BCSC, RICS Code of Practice and College of Estate Management Trustees Board, was followed by a year at TK Maxx as in house Service Charge Manager where I also got involved with Property Management.
Following this I went into working service charges as a consultant, initially with SGP Property & Facilities Management as Head of Department, and then on my own. I have very recently branched out and formed 1st Point Consulting LLP with 3 of my trusted friends to enable us to do more in the Service Charge and Property Management world than the sole trader can do alone.
Due to my involvement with the PMA (Property Managers Association) and various other industry bodies through which people have come to trust my fair and practical approach to the often subjective world of service charges, I have managed to make some valuable contacts on all sides and undertake instructions from Landlords and Managing Agents as well as the Retailers.
Overall 20 years dealing with service charges from various angles and still (relatively) sane, so consider this an achievement. In my spare time, when I get any, I like to socialise, scuba dive and ride my motor bike – and socialise.
