Background
Kentro Capital Ltd, incorporating Nexus Underwriting Ltd and Xenia Broking, is a specialist insurance group operating across the London market and internationally.
With a global network of 16 offices and more than 305 employees, the organisation was pursuing continued growth, including expansion through strategic acquisitions. As the business developed, maintaining a consistent workplace experience and preserving the distinctive Kentro, Nexus and Xenia culture across multiple locations became increasingly important.
Maxwell Stephens was appointed to recruit a senior facilities management professional capable of supporting this international estate while protecting both the operational and commercial interests of the business. The successful candidate needed to combine facilities management, property and lease expertise, project delivery, acquisition support, compliance and stakeholder management within a fast-paced and expanding organisation.
The Challenge
Kentro Capital required a facilities professional capable of managing a broad and strategically important property remit across an international portfolio. The role went well beyond traditional day-to-day FM: the successful candidate needed to support business expansion, property transactions and acquisitions while keeping offices safe, welcoming, commercially viable and aligned with the Group's culture. The key requirements were:
- International facilities management. Maintaining consistent facilities and workplace standards across a geographically dispersed portfolio of offices.
- Brand & workplace experience. Ensuring each location reflected the culture and identity of Kentro, Nexus and Xenia while providing employees with a professional, welcoming and productive environment.
- Lease & property management. Managing lease arrangements and property obligations so that individual offices continued to support the organisation's operational and commercial requirements.
- Contract negotiation. Negotiating property and facilities contracts to secure appropriate service levels, commercial terms and value for money.
- Acquisition due diligence. Supporting the Group's acquisition strategy by reviewing the property and facilities implications of potential transactions.
- Property maintenance. Keeping buildings and workplace services properly maintained and resolving operational issues efficiently.
- Premises projects. Leading workplace and property projects, including changes arising from growth, relocations, acquisitions or wider business requirements.
- Health & safety compliance. Maintaining appropriate health and safety standards across the office portfolio and making sure responsibilities were clearly understood.
- Operational policies & guidelines. Developing consistent facilities procedures and operational guidance to support effective management across multiple locations.
- Stakeholder management. Building productive relationships with employees, senior leaders, landlords, service providers and other stakeholders across the international business.
Acquisitive businesses put a particular strain on the facilities function. Every transaction brings new leases, new landlords and new offices with their own habits, and the person responsible has to fold each one into a consistent standard without slowing the deal down.
Our Recruitment Approach
Maxwell Stephens conducted a targeted search for facilities and property professionals with experience operating across international, multi-site corporate environments. Given Kentro Capital's ambitious acquisition strategy, the candidate required a broader commercial and property skill set than would typically be expected of a conventional facilities management role. Our assessment focused on experience in:
- international and multi-site facilities management
- commercial property and lease management
- contract negotiation
- acquisitions and property due diligence
- premises and workplace projects
- supplier and contractor management
- health and safety compliance
- policy and process development
- senior stakeholder engagement
- organisational growth and change
Strong communication and problem-solving skills were essential. Kentro Capital needed someone capable of working across different business units and geographies while maintaining a consistent approach to service quality, workplace culture and commercial decision-making.
The Outcome
Following a comprehensive search and selection process, Maxwell Stephens placed a highly capable facilities management professional who closely matched Kentro Capital's requirements. The appointment strengthened the Group's facilities and property capability across its growing international portfolio:
- Greater consistency across global offices. A more coordinated approach to workplace operations across the Group's international locations, supporting consistency while respecting local requirements.
- Stronger brand & cultural alignment. Facilities and workplace decisions managed with greater consideration for the identity of Kentro, Nexus and Xenia, helping maintain a consistent employee experience as the Group expanded.
- Improved employee experience. A proactive approach to workplace management that created more welcoming and functional office environments, supporting employee satisfaction and productivity.
- Stronger commercial property management. Property and commercial expertise that strengthened the management and negotiation of leases and contracts, helping protect Kentro Capital's financial interests.
- Better support for acquisitions. Facilities and property considerations incorporated into acquisition activity, providing greater insight into the operational implications of potential transactions.
- Improved premises management. Stronger oversight of maintenance, suppliers and workplace projects, improving the reliability and performance of the office portfolio.
- Enhanced compliance. A structured approach to health and safety and operational procedures, supporting stronger governance across multiple locations.
- More proactive facilities support. A responsive support culture in which workplace issues were identified and addressed effectively as the organisation continued to grow.
The placement gave Kentro Capital a facilities professional capable of supporting both the day-to-day performance and strategic development of a growing international property portfolio, combining facilities management, commercial property expertise, acquisition support, workplace strategy and stakeholder engagement so that the Group's offices remained operationally effective, financially viable and aligned with its culture.
Why This Placement Worked
The assignment demonstrates Maxwell Stephens' ability to recruit facilities and property professionals for fast-growing international organisations, where workplace strategy must evolve alongside acquisitions, organisational change and geographic expansion. The brief was scoped as a property and commercial role with facilities at its core, rather than a facilities role with some property duties, and the search was run accordingly.
If you are looking for an experienced facilities or property professional to support a growing international business, Maxwell Stephens can help you define the brief and reach candidates who have worked through expansion and acquisition. Get in touch with our team.