One of the best known figures in the Liverpool professional community is to take on a national role. Tony McDonough reports

Stephen Cowperthwaite, head of the Liverpool office of property consultancy Avison Young is to be the firm’s managing director of UK regions.

For the past eight years Stephen has been regional managing director of AY’s Liverpool office in St Paul’s Square. He will continue that role but will also oversee the work of the firm’s other regional directors.

In particular, he will focus on fostering stronger partnerships between the regions and both UK and foreign investors.

As part of the wider Liverpool professional community Stephen has played a key role in Liverpool’s presence at the annual MIPIM property expo in Cannes. In 2019 he became head of the Liverpool MIPIM steering group.

Stephen’s commitment to the industry is also reflected in his position as chair of Liverpool Place Partnership, and as a member of the Professional Liverpool board and governor at Chesterfield High School in Crosby.

“I’m thrilled to be taking on this new role, which will enable me to continue to build on great strategic public-private partnerships across the UK,” he said.

“Having worked closely with local authorities, clients and investors, I have seen first-hand what our cities and towns need in order to see real benefits in their communities, as well as the economy and the environment.

“I am keen for this new role to help drive our strategy as we build on the heritage that Avison Young has across the whole of the UK, by strengthening the experiences and the relationships we’ve established.”

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Nick Walkley, Avison Young UK president, added: “During his time as RMD in Liverpool, Stephen has illustrated what it means to be a true regional advisor with the results and relationships that have been cultivated.

“The way in which he has acted as an advocate, networker, and sometimes as a critical friend to ensure that our public and private sector clients can deliver transformative projects across the UK, is something we want to see happening in regions across the country.”